Two babies within 12 months, help!

[Miss1107]

Hello mums,

I gave birth to my son last July and have recently given birth to another son in June, he is now 3 weeks old. My first has just turned one and is extremely active requiring plenty of stimulation. With a newborn that takes up so much of my time and attention I am really struggling. My one year old has shown signs of jealousy and sulks/winges whenever I am feeding the newborn.

Every day is a struggle right now and I just don't know what to do. Coupled with a lack of sleep and another year on maternity leave without adult interaction I am going a little stir crazy. I'm only 3 weeks in so far!

Any advice from parents who have had two babies so close together would be much appreciated.

Thank you x

Congrats :-) Mine aren't as close together as yours (13months apart) but I do feel some of what you are with a 1 year old and newborn. I found a sling/carrier really good in the early days to enable me to spend time with the older one while the baby slept. Also playgroups, which I thought would be stressful, are great as the older one can have lots of fun things to do, and other mums are always willing to help with either supervising toddler, or holding the baby. It gets easier, mine are 21 and 8 months now and it's lovely to see them play together - once the baby is sitting up and mobile it's a bit easier to juggle their needs.

Can you get him a one or two new special. big boy toys that are for the time you're feeding the baby only? They get put away after the feed until the next time?

13 month age gap here. It is tough, EXTREMELY tiring and sometimes not fun, however also get some amazing moments of sibling love and baby stuff is all still automatic as you haven't forgotten anything.
I would read books to elder one as I breastfed, would get new ones from library every week to keep them exciting. Get out to groups or play dates, ask for help to hold baby or watch 1 year old if you need to. People love to help but you have to ask for it. Ask HV if surestart could help at all??
When elder can walk it gets much easier, then when younger can walk/crawl it gets easier again.

Thank you mums for your replies, really appreciate the advice and reassuring to know it does get easier over time.

Sorry for the late reply, my little one has been in hospital with viral meningitis. It's so scary and literally when I thought things were tough life throws another challenge. Praying he recovers quickly I feel so helpless :(