2 children and seriously struggling

[OhToBeASeahorse]

DS is 2.5 and DD is nearly 5 months
DS is full on - cries several times a day, very emotional, very bright. He is constantly hurting himself and isnt very dexterous yet so needs a lot of help with things.

DD is only really happy being held by me. She will go down in bouncer for maybe 10 mins but that's it.

Her sleep is what's breaking me. All naps in the sling and at night she will only sleep with me literally on my arm. I'm having to go to bed at 7 and she wakes frequently.

I'm struggling with stories of other babies nodding off in prams and staying asleep and in their own beds all night.

How can I even begin to improve this? It all seems impossible.

I coslept with my second baby till she was about seven months old. Then I started managing to get her down in her cot in her own room, and we both slept better for it. I started to do a little routine of book (a couple of pages), feed, put in cot. If she started crying I set a timer and went back in five mins later, then stroked her back for a couple of minutes, then set timer for six mins if still crying, and so on. After that she would normally sleep for a couple of hours and then wake for feeds often, but at least I was getting some sleep in my own bed 🛌 inbetween. Good luck.

My DD was the same. She would only want to be held by me and wasn't an easy sleeper. I used to have to rock her and she would quite happily sleep on me for all her sleeps. Ideally i wanted to keep her with me for the first year like i did with my DS. When my DD turned 7mo i moved her into her own room and things changed quite quickly. She enjoys her space in her cot. I still have the occasional night where she's upset but i use the timer technique. The first 6 months just feel like your dazed. When you and your DD are ready then i think you both will benefit from gaining that extra sleep separately. I hope all works out for you. It feels like it will last forever but it really doesn't