mastering second child's daytime naps

[Caterpillar0]

I have an 8 week old who has forgotten how to sleep. She is ok 8.30pm-7am but during the day only sleeps if she's in the sling or car. I have an 18month old and am finding it impossible to devote sufficient time to getting our 8 week old off to sleep, so she only cat naps and is grumpy as a result, and often in meltdown by evening.

how did you all manage your second child's daytime sleeping, whilst running after DS/DD1? any advice much appreciated. I don't have much help and DS1 only goes t nursery for a few hours a few days a week

The only way I really manage is in the pushchair. I need to get the toddler who no longer naps out of the house at least once a day so I make this in the afternoon 2-3ish so dd2 isn't so tired at dinnertime I blakout the pushchair at the moment with blankets.

Kind of also marking place for some ideas too.

deathmetalmum Have you got a good double pushchair? that's the other area that is a nightmare right now. we have the icandy but it's a monster as a double buggy. it's really heavy and it is a major project to get in and out the flat. plus the 8 week old doesn't even like it! she has to be asleep before going in, as opposed to dropping off on the journey. arghhh
I was doing sling for baby and mclaren for toddler before but its too hot now.

At that age I put DD down for naps in her pushchair so I could keep an eye on DS. It sometimes took 10-15mins of grizzling for her to nod off but at least I had my hands free!

My DD is now 5 months but for about the first 3 months my phil & ted was my saviour - we walked miles around the village via the park. DS (2.7) was happy being out and DD would sleep so well in the cocoon - win win except for my poor feet! Sometimes just rocking her in the buggy indoors would work as well.

Now at 5 months she's better at having a couple of good naps in her cot so things have gotten easier

Caterpillar0 I have a double that is great for us jane powertwin we don't drive so doesn't matter about the fold size or car seat attachment and it still fits on the bus, though I wouldn't get out as much if we still lived in a flat like we did with dd at the same age, I know its a huge hassle. There were very mixed review on here when I asked about the pushchair but is perfect for us I don't find it heavy at all though a little struggle up steep hills. I can push one handed any othertime.

I agree with pp's that I put her down in the puschair for naps even in the daytime I cover it with blankets inside too for blackout and she sleeps better.

We kind of have a mini routine as most of the groups we attend start 9.30-10 so dd2 often sleeps on the way or similar if we are inside. The afternoon nap is far more important for me though I prep dinner etc have a cup of tea and a litte play with dd1 though she is quite happy to potter around herself when we get bacl from wherever and stops dd being overtired later on.

DS2 is 4.5mo and will still only nap in the sling. Won't nap anywhere else, including our Phil and Ted's, which is currently just an expensive trolley.

Another vote for the Phil and Ted's cocoon. Ds (7 weeks) was sleeping in his vibrating bouncy chair, but stopped doing that last week, so I'm now taking dd (19 months) and ds out for a walk after her lunchtime nap everyday. Ds will then stay asleep in the cocoon once I get back in the house.
A morning nap is a bit trickier, at the moment he's sleeping on me while dd is playing on her own, but as soon as I put him down he'll wake up!

I also find that the afternoon nap is key to avoiding a meltdown, ds can manage on catnaps in the morning, but if he doesn't get a good nap in the afternoon he takes a couple of hours to settle for bed.

Your posts have made me feel a lot more normal. I always imagine everyone else's babies are napping 3 times a day in their cots no fuss