anyone with three under 5

[littleraysofsunshine]

They seem to have gone very out of balance lately. Sleep, behaviours, demands. Everything.

We're also expecting number four.

They bicker a lot more, sleep is disturbed and just seem to want want want. All change since miss 5 starting school, three yo nursery and 22mo.

Some days it's great but then lately it's just manic.

Baby keeps waking once then up at 4:30/5-5:30. Wakes up others. when slept 7-6 usually. Either that or three year old wakes or refuses bed which she usually loved.

It's so easy to compare and 5yo sleep has always been so easy in comparison but. I know they're all very close in age and different.

Just bonkers the rapid change lately. Then it causes stressful parents with lack of sleep.

No help but my Mum had 7 kids altogether and had 4 under 5yrs old at one point...... She didn't sleep properly for years! She said she just used to heap us all into bed with her, it was the only way to get some sleep!

Tried that.. And it doesn't work! Everyone just moans they have no room

I would move you gets into your room so they others aren't being disturbed when they wake. Try and get youngest back to sleep or just give quiet toys like hard back books or teddies in bed they can play with alone whilst you half dose. Just give them a tiny nightlight so enough to see toys but not to bright and they might fall back to sleep from boredom

Are they going to bed too early in the evening? Are they eating dinner to early?Can you give an extra banana before bed so they aren't waking up hungry

I'm no help but j have a 3 yo, 2 yo and newborn and they are all driving me bonkers. I know it is the disruption but I have never seen the older 2 fight like they are. And we are housebound as I cannot drive.

Just joining in to moan really...

Poo- can you put baby in sling/ pram, and older two in wellingtons and just let them walk locally around paths if parks too far away atm? Give them a tick list each of what to find to tick off with a crayon ( a brown leaf, red leaf, round stone, snail, feather). Even just a 20 min slow walk makes a huge difference imo on their behaviour once home again.

Good suggestion art thanks. I think I can manage a sling (post csec so don't want to overdo it too soon). It is a bit of a worry with the 2 yo near the main road but there is a housing estate nearby if we can get there.

Or mine loved indoor sandpit at that age.

Get a tray/ baby bath/ baking dish , add a layer of rice/ lentils/ couscous/ oats or whatever you have. Then give them spoons/ pots/ toy cars and animals to play there with. Put in on a large towel in Kitchen ideally so you can pick up 4 corners to empty spilt stuff in bin after

Or same thing but with water. Kids in pants, warm water with bubbles in a tray/ baby bath. Add calpol syringes/ sieves/ bath toys. Put on towel. Let them play with it. It they get wet, it's only water so fine. Or can put them both in bath after to pass more time also!
I used to use our bath as a kind of playpen for mine! Once they were in in warm soapy water they wouldn't climb out without me, so I could chill sitting on closed toilet seat for 1/2 hr whilst they played with toys and were basically trapped but happy! It's perfect time to be able to feed newborn for you or do food shopping online on phone etc

Great ideas thanks art!!