Maternity and Coronavirus

[1Pinkfluffyelephant]

Anyone else found them selves on maternity with a newborn and the prospect of having their older dc at home for however long this lockdown lasts. Certainly wasn’t what I had planned for maternity leave. How on earth do you entertain/home school an older dc- whilst having a refluxy newborn. I feel bad as I don’t want to leave him to cry but I feel like at some point if he has been fed, changed, burped and cuddled and won’t settle, I’m going to have to put him in his crib even if he does cry and attend to dc1 because otherwise it won’t be fair on her.

I had a 2 year age gap so DS2 just had to slot in.., as a result he's super chilled and not a pick of bother!

How old is your daughter?

@Mammyloveswine unfortunately not all babies just slot in though. Don’t get me wrong most days he naps well but some days he won’t and just screams. Eldest is 7 so is good at playing by her self but also I don’t expect her to do this all day and she needs me too! Also I’m not a teacher so trying to achieve a full weeks schedule as we were set by the school isn’t going to be that easy.

I didn't have a choice with a toddler and a newborn, so he had to cry more than the older one, I breastfed too so the older one had to wait sometimes.

Just do the best you can and try not to put pressure on yourself.

At 7 she could help a lot with the baby. Do you have a sling? That will help as baby will hopefully be content on you and you then have free hands to help your daughter.

FWIW I am a teacher and after working from home and juggling a 2 and 4 year old not a lot of homeschooling is happening here!

Yeah I am breast feeding too but trying to express as well so that’s an added time to factor in. Eldest is brilliant and helps out loads without even being asked but I just feel bad that she was supposed to be at school. She is missing her friends, having to adapt for having a new baby in the house and having me attempt to teach her stuff she probably knows more about than I do 😂

I’m in the same boat OP. Baby is now 10 weeks and I’m trying to homeschool my 5.5yo (year 1) and entertain my almost 4yo. Thought I’d have 3 days a week where they were both at school to focus on the new baby plus some support from my mum and a weekly cleaner. It’s been pretty tough!

I have felt quite often as though none of them are getting what they need despite me running around from morning to night. I felt the same when I had my second but had hoped school routine and other support I mentioned would make it easier this time.