How do you split your attention/time between 2 children?

[Mandymoo]

DD is 3.7 and ds is 10 wks.

Atm ds doesnt sleep during the day but is not happily awake (wants to sleep but doesnt!).

DD is at pre-school every morning so in the afternoon i try and spend time with her doing what she likes (craft stuff, board games, groups etc) - trouble is with ds not sleeping, my attention invariably goes to him and poor dd has to amuse herself (which she does well i have to say but she is still only 3!!)

How do people manage to split their time? I know you cannot tear yourself in two but atm its so hard with ds not being happily awake iyswim

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Mandymoo i am in the same situation as you. I hve a ds 2.5yrs and ds2 7wks and find it quite hard to do both as its taking time to get used to it all.
I tend to keep ds2 nearby when i play with ds1 in his bouncy chair and if he falls asleep i put him straight up the stairs in bed.
However i do find it hard when ds1 gets a bit aggressive around ds2 (having nightmare with him trying to attack him so constanly got to keep an eye out)
Not really a great help here really! But i think eventually when i can have a proper routine it would be much easier!

Your situation sounds very similar to mine when DS was tiny. He too never wanted to sleep and if he did it was never for long. He is now 8 months and things are alot easier, DD enjoys him now as she gets more back from him so hang on in there, it will get easier!!

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How about walking to a park when the weather is good, hopefully your ds will fall asleep on the way and your dd can have your full attention when you get there? I have to say when mine were at that stage we watched a lot of tv!

add a 6.5 year old into the mix and I'm in the same situation

its bloody difficult

my attitude is that if we are all alive at the end of the day its been a good day

the kids have to lump it when I have to feed the baby I have to feed the baby

I try and stay off mumsnet for a start

ignore them both

its easy

the way you play with a 3 year old when you have a new baby is IMO to make the new baby the plaything

lets change 'your' baby shall we DD

oo DD can you pass me a nappy for your baby

do you think your baby would like his toes tickled

etc etc ad nauseum

it's good for children to have a bit of benign neglect (I think that's the official parenting term).

i go for benign neglect or paid childcare really, and that way my attention lasts between 3 small children.

otherwise, i found toddler groups very good with a toddler and new baby. you sit with the baby while toddler frolics around with the others. the only problem is doing the ubiquitous "Hokey Cokey" holding two of them up (do all toddler groups end with this or just the ones I've been to?)

ds1 started to play on his own when he was 11 months as i had ds2. it did not give him any harm but made him more independent. now at groups he plays all the time while ds2 wants my attention after every few minutes.