How do you fit in crafting time with a baby?

[Madratlady]

Every time I sit down to knit or sew DS wakes up and needs to be fed and cuddled, he can be awake for several hours wanting to be held which is obviously fine because he's absolutely gorgeous and I could happily sit and cuddle him all the time, but he's only tiny still and cries if put down awake. Short of growing an extra arm, how can I do some knitting or sewing? Would a sling work? I try and do some housework when he's asleep which then doesn't leave any knitting/sewing time left!

With DS I could crochet over him. DD2 can't be put down and it hypersensitive to movement so I can't do anything except one fingered mumsnetting on a carefully balanced iPad while holding her. It's rubbish. I want my lovely wool!

It really depends in huge sort of baby you have. I had an un-putdownable Velcro baby and got very little crafting done (or much of anything else) in the first year. A friend of mine had twins and could lay in bed nursing them and knit at the same time!

Slings can work, and when they get to that point where they lay under something and bat at toys, don't just spend all that time staring lovingly at them, get out the knitting too!

I had a ridiculous idea that I could get loads of knitting done on maternity leave. I may have been a little optimistic. I also want to make a patchwork quilt, I have fabric and everything but in reality I spend most of my day on the sofa with a wide eyed baby sat on my lap.

This thread sounds like I'm complaining about DS, I'm really not, I think he's the most amazing thing ever, but I miss my kitting time!

Honestly? I didn't! I have three dc, the youngest is two and a half and I am just getting the will to craft much back again. I kind of had time, especially when they were tiny babies, but I was so tired I just wanted to stare at a blank wall when they napped, if I wasn't doing jobs. It's a shame, as I missed out in making scrummy baby clothes for them, but I'm going to make up for it now. And dd1, who is eight, is just getting properly interested in knitting and sewing which is a joy in itself.

Other people manage, but I didn't.

i tried to knit during the day now my ds turned 2 and isn't such a velcro child, but it turned out he is surprisingly strong
I'm going to try some crochet once I can sort a project out, but really i am just taking advantages of the time I get in the evenings now.
one day, one day......... stares wistfully up at the sky dreaming of days with wool

I can't! Dd is 6 months and by the time she's in bed. I'm either too shattered, busy running round trying to catch up or running up and down stairs getting her settled.

Oh I smpathise. I've been trying to finish a cross stitch piece for three years. I was going to learn to crotchet, make a cot quilt for my dd (she's five now...) I have no idea when I'm going to finish it. Shame it hasn't stopped me buying stuff for more projects

I've been a bit addicted to craft magazines since having the dc-it's like some kind of porn like craft substitute. That and optimistic stash building

I can't.

DD2 is seven months and I can't manage crafting. By the time she is asleep in the evening I have to study or do household jobs.

I'm not getting any house diy done either, my beautiful garden is falling by the wayside and I'm getting a smidge depressed by it all truth be told.

I do most of my sewing in the evening once she is asleep. At 7 months she's generally in bed by 7.30. It helps that I have a DH who regularly works nights and I find the telly pretty boring.