Is my second baby not getting enough attention?

[pigeon1982]

Hi,

Sorry if this is a silly thing topic!

I have a two week old baby and a four year old and today is our first day on our own now that my husband has gone to work. Getting my eldest ready for nursery was really hard as I just had to keep leaving the baby crying in his baby chair. I know there's no way around this really as I only have one pair of hands but it's so stressful, I keep comparing it to when my first was a baby and I never let her cry and picked her up or held her all the time!
I was just wondering if any kind strangers had any tips or experiences to share?

Can the four year old not get herself ready? Encourage more independence.

Unfortunately it is the case that sometimes the baby might need to have a little cry but there's not a lot of ways around it. Having two is hard!

Thanks, the four year could mostly get ready on her own but she has regressed a little since the baby!

You're right, I know. Just wondering if anyone else had the same thing/ feels a bit guilty about it!

Get a sling. You need your hands free much more with a second child. Also, as long as there is no emergency, crying for a short while will not harm your second. There's a reason second children IME tend to be much more independent! Someone said to me when I had my first Dc to really enjoy it as it's not the same second time round, and it's true. I mean I enjoyed lots of things more the second time as you are more confident and relaxed usually but the second just cannot get the same level of attention. It's not always a bad thing. They fit around your/dc's lives and routines rather than the other way round, especially when you have things like nursery or school to factor in. Congratulations by the way. At least you have the hours when your first is in nursery. Imagine if you had a toddler always at home. I had a similar gap to you and it is an advantage in some ways, at this stage anyway. Good luck!

Ah, thanks! Will definitely be getting the sling, so thanks for the advice! I think it is just a bit overwhelming the first morning! Luckily the eldest was well behaved today so sorting her out went smoothly. Im sure there will be mornings when they are both screaming which ought to be super fun.

I have a 4y8m dd and dd2 is 4m, mornings can be hard, I feed dd2 in bed at 7-7.15 then leave her in her bed or on her playmat whilst get dd1 up and sort breakfast out. Whilst she's eating get I get ready quickly, change dd2 re dress her and sort out dd1s clothes and she puts them on with a bit of assistance. Then get in car. Takes 45-1 hr for us. Sometimes she is left for a min or two crying. But going from one to the other helps a bit.

With hindsights I actually thought I left DD1 out a bit as DD2 was so demanding. It is tough getting the balance right, and I never managed the knack of b/fing the younger at the same time as helping the older with reading!!

Also use the sling at home with dd2

It is always hard in the first few weeks; it will get easier soon!

And yes, your second baby will get less attention - from you. But, he/she will also get attention, love and entertainment from your DD! That's the beauty of having siblings.

With DS1, I did baby yoga, baby music group, baby swimming, baby massage, and all kinds of other groups. With DS3, I did nothing of the sort - he just tags along to whatever his brothers are doing. But: he's never alone, he's probably the happiest, most content baby out of the three of them; he loves to watch his brothers play and to play with them. I honestly think he's luckier than DS1 was as he's got 4people looking after him

On grants on your new baby, and I'm sure you'll manage just fine in a few weeks.

P.S. And yes, yes, yes to using a sling!

All your answers are making me feel better about my morning

Wow, good luck! I'd love three but not sure I could take it!

Thank you!

Second children often get less attention/left to cry a bit more. I can honestly say ds2 is a much more chilled and patient child because of it, where as ds1 is v demanding and wants everything now.

DS1 is 2.4yo and DS2 is 4 weeks and I feel the same. My main worry is that DS2 gets overtired easily as I don't have the time to focus on getting him to sleep - he won't just drop off. So I worry he's sleep deprived and that it'll harm his development...!

and yes, he is left to cry far more than DS1 EVER was!!

I have a 2.9DD and a 1yo DS and I agree with kaymondo, DD is a bit of a drama queen and DS appears to be a lot more relaxed and low maintenance as a result.

I feel guilty about everything. Every single day. According to mum, this feeling will never go away, which is a nice thought

Great to have everyone's experience and advice! Glad I'm not alone in the guilt and worrying!!

I have 2yo and 3 week old. Also trying to sort out the balance. Hard hard hard!

I have a 19 month old and a 3 month old and it really is hard ! Ds likes to be held constantly and dd is a very active and demanding toddler. I have no great words of wisdom as I'm just trying to muddle through myself!

It will only get easier is my mantra ( though harder in other ways I'm sure)

I have a seven week old a very nearly three year old. Baby always wants a bottle when im prepping dds lunch or dinner so I find these the mose stressful times. I also feel like Baby just gets left in his bouncer etc but DD will be off to nursery soon so we wilk have that time every day