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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

So how do I split myself in 2?

46 replies

Jimjams · 03/02/2005 09:16

Since having ds3 things are fine when ds1 is at school, and fine(ish) when I have another pair of hands, but I am absolutely unable to see how I can get all the kids to bed by myself.

I can do bathtime just about and ds2 is easy. But then ds1 is being a nightmare- it's taking about and hour or so to get him to bed each day and usually the baby is awake then. The night he did go to sleep (thought that may work- get him down first) ds1 woke him up. At the moment dh is getting home by 7 so he is doing the hideous stuff with ds1 (nice and relaxing for him- not!). I think we are beginning to get bedtime under control (its been bad since xmas) but obviously I am going to have to do it alone soon- so how? I thought about putting ds3 down in his cot with him mobile to keep him quiet for a bit, but I don't think he'd be happy there for an hour (!!) and also I don't think ds1 will tolerate his light being left on (the babay's light I mean - he can see it from his room).

Other than (option 1) running away to a foreign country and never returning does anyone have any tips on (option 2) how to be in 2 places at once?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

Jimjams · 03/02/2005 14:15

I thought that earlier.....

OP posts:

Skribble · 04/02/2005 01:10

Is DS3 and DS2 in the same room? If so I would consider putting DS3 in moses in your room on the rare occasions he settles first. Stops DS2 climbing on him and less to look at when its DS2 turn to settle.

What age is DS1 maybe he can be encouraged to help with routine of the other 2 to distract from his toe touching etc. Even if it is just fetching something or putting music on for baby.

Original poster

Jimjams · 04/02/2005 10:08

DS3 is in our room- ds1 is 5 and a hlaf but severely autistic and therin lies the problem! He's not really remotely interested in the baby (and really doesn't like ds2), just likes sitting in small places! Directing his attention is pretty much a full time job anyway.

last night was ridiculous- especially as ds1 got upset. Another problem seems to have arisen- in that the last 3 days he has done a poo after 9pm (how and why doo they set up these stiupid stupid routines) and will not settle until he's done that. Aaagggghhhhh In the end he was being cheeky getting out as soon as he got into bed- In the end we used a double travel barrier (one on top of the other) to shut him in and he eventually went to sleep. No wonder he looks tired this morning.

Tried getting him to take the hoover to bed- but that didn't work.

OP posts:

onlyjoking9329 · 04/02/2005 10:12

the dreaded autie poo routine one of my DD's wouls only poo on a friday, that routine lasted for years, all three of mine would only ever poo in a clean nappy too, oh the joys of autism

Original poster

Jimjams · 04/02/2005 12:47

Before xmas he would only poo every 3 or 4 days now he's pooing twice a day. And he keeps standing in the toilet! No idea where that came from. Aaaaaaghhh I suppose if it's always a Friday you can book things around it

OP posts:

Skribble · 05/02/2005 00:23

Sorry I didn't realise Ds1 has autisim. That puts a different angle on things, not something I have experience of.

Original poster

Jimjams · 05/02/2005 08:45

well last night was bloody ridiculous-0 didn't get him into bed until gone 11pm. heeeeellllpppp Do we barricade him in a leave him to scream? Or do we try and settle him down- doing a particularly bad job of it have to say at the moment.

OP posts:

WideWebWitch · 05/02/2005 09:28

Oh Jimjams, this sounds hellish, I wish I could give you a magic wand but all I can do is sympathise and hope someone comes up with a good idea.

tigermoth · 05/02/2005 09:43

jimjams, me too

ghosty · 05/02/2005 09:47

Jimjams, this sounds awful! Poor you! I hate doing my two at bedtime and we don't have the other stuff going on like you ....
New Zealand is particularly nice right now ... book your flight, I'll make sure there is clean linen on the spare bed
Not sure what your bad news was but I hope you are OK ......

Original poster

Jimjams · 05/02/2005 11:09

brainwave!!!! melatonin- I am off to scrounge some from a friend....

OP posts:

misdee · 05/02/2005 11:10

is that miracle stuff jimjams.

Prufrock · 05/02/2005 13:27

Hope the melatonin works.
Could you alter DS3's routine so that he is asleep already at the crucial period? Maybe have him go to bed at 6 for a couple of hours, then get him up once DS1&2 are asleep and your dh can spend some time with him and do his bath then?

Original poster

Jimjams · 05/02/2005 13:54

Can't prufrock as I have to leave ds1 unsupervised whilst getting ds2 into bed- and ds1 climbs into the moses basket.

Also we can't use the bathroom whilst ds1 is awake- and if he doesn't sleep until 11.30...... eek!

fingers crossed that the melatonin works.

OP posts:

dinosaur · 05/02/2005 14:35

Jimjams, would it be worth considering giving DS3 a bottle (either ebm or formula) as ime they take milk from a bottle much more quickly than they do breastfeeding, then settle him down in his moses basket with some sort of white noise gadget/ticking clock/womb noises/whale noises etc while you do DS2 and then start on DS1?

dinosaur · 05/02/2005 14:36

Oh sorry, of course that doesn't work if DS1 climbs in the moses basket!

Er - lock your bedroom door? Sorry, that sounds awful.

Saker · 05/02/2005 18:26

Have you tried a baby swing for ds3 - it might keep him quiet for a while. I used to put ds2 in one as a tiny baby while I bathed ds1. Not all babies like them I know.

Original poster

Jimjams · 05/02/2005 18:32

I couldn't leave him in there whilst ds1 was unsupervised.... (ds1 is quite keen on swings- used to sit in the one we had when ds2 was tiny). And push him of course.

OP posts:

misdee · 05/02/2005 19:14

can u put ds3 in a safe locked room whilst u get the others down?

Twiglett · 05/02/2005 20:22

have come to this late .. sounds like a complete nightmare Jimjams

is there any way you can get a teatime girl to watch DS2 and 3 if DH goes back to work (I know more expense but you can usually get an A'level student or similar)?

probably no help at all, wishing you good sleep routines

hovely · 05/02/2005 21:59

just a passing thought - what if ds3 goes into a pram that you can push round with you? so feed & wind ds3 early, pop him in pram, settle Ds2 with the pram in the same room if necessary while hopefully ds3 dozes (?), chase ds1 whilst rocking pram, then use baby heartbeat/ white noise machine or mobile if he's still awake and you need to be with ds1?

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