I’m tired.

[ParentalGuidances]

My 6mo wakes 3 times a night for a feed, my 2yo then wakes up early to begin the day. I’m tired, I’m exhausted. I didn’t know how testing parenting could be.

Ok nobody cares

I care! I remember the exhaustion - mine are a similar age gap. It is all consuming but it will get better. Hope you can have a quiet day today

Sending hugs x

Been there! It's a tough old age gap. I'm afraid you've just got to get yourself to bed earlier, no two ways about it. Sucks because you want adult time in the evenings, but you'll feel so much better for getting yourself in bed by 8 or 9.

Yep I’m deep in it with the same aged DC. It’s relentless. You wake up tired, you’re tired all day. Go to bed early so don’t spend any quality time with DH as you have no energy left to function, then woken 3-4 times to feed at night.

Solidarity. I found giving up alcohol, drinking night-time tea and going to bed at 9pm helped me.

Many are in the same position. You'll get a nod of solidarity.

I can tell you it will get better, I'm 6 kids in and had a set of twins so no stranger to sleep deprivation. Self inflicted though so can't complain too much.

Balls to a 9pm bedtime.... I can do 5/6 hours sleep and still lift heavy in the gym fasted. Sleep is overrated

@Chely

Balls to a 9pm bedtime.... I can do 5/6 hours sleep and still lift heavy in the gym fasted. Sleep is overrated

Well, bully for you. People have different sleep needs and OP is clearly struggling.

Sleep train the baby, get the toddler a groclock, make their dad give you a morning off every week and sack off as many of the household chores as you can!

@Chely

Balls to a 9pm bedtime.... I can do 5/6 hours sleep and still lift heavy in the gym fasted. Sleep is overrated

What a remarkably unhelpful thing to say to someone who's struggling! Hopefully your children have someone else to teach them empathy.

3 times a night at 6 months is quite a lot. Have you started weening? Try formula feeding for night time so dh can help out?
It gets easier, you just gotta do what you have to to survive.

I've only got one but my 15month old is currently waking up 3 x night then often up for the day at 5 or 6am. Exhausted even though I go to bed at 9pm. No idea how people do this with two children!

Point is to see the glass half full rather than half empty.
I look at what I get done despite being sleep deprived, I've been in that pit of depression feeling like I was going to break because it was all so hard. You can't always stop it being hard but you can change your attitude towards it. You will get through these hard years OP, oat yourself in the back for all the things you do get done.

Solidarity hugs. DD is 7 weeks and DS is 2.5. My day started at 3am for about the 50th day in a row. I consider 5 hours a lie in at the moment - it's normally more like 3 or 4. DP helps out when he can but he's an emergency worker so I want him to get as much sleep as possible so he's safe to drive on blue lights.

I make sure I get a nap on his days off and go to bed pretty much as soon as the toddler is asleep and I've had something to eat. The house looks like a bomb has hit it. A bomb filled with brightly coloured plastic.

I just keep telling myself it's not forever. We'll get through this!

Yes having children is tiring, it’s normal I’m afraid! Hopefully it will get better as they get olded

Older!!

I have four DC and it does get easier in many ways. Still up early but rarely up during the night now.

@Chely

Balls to a 9pm bedtime.... I can do 5/6 hours sleep and still lift heavy in the gym fasted. Sleep is overrated

Do you need a dose of empathy. The OP is having a tough time.

Just because one can manage life easily, doesn't mean everyone is able to as well. Always good to be supportive 🙌

I hear you, sister. It's bloody hard.