Three kids.. does it get easier?

[SleeplessInSuburbs]

Have a 6 year old, a 3 year old and a 9 month old baby. Mums of 3, please tell me.. does this get easier? When? Any tips for survival. Baby sleeps terribly. I’m breastfeeding so husband can’t help with nights but does breakfast and dinners so he is helping with what he can. Not interested in expressing, hated it in the past. But I’m exhausted and have so little patience with the older kids and everything is noisy all of the time. Tell me it gets easier please!! Kids all healthy and no developmental issues so I know I am lucky but just finding it very hard right now. I found two kids absolutely fine.

Is your eldest going back to school next week? Will your middle be in some form of childcare for any part of the week? I imagine things feel chaotic and stressful because you're all at home for the summer holidays, and might feel easier when 6yo is back in school?

You don't want to express, but would you combi-feed? One bottle of formula a day, so you can head to bed after the 3yo and husband takes the first night shift with the baby? I understand not all babies take a bottle or formula so it may be a no-go.

I found the transition to three kids very hard. Like you, my youngest was a terrible sleeper. I also hated expressing but would you consider moving to formula? I did this when DC3 was 8 months.

I found it hard for a while longer (sorry but I don't want to give you false hope!) but it will happen eventually. Hang in there!

Thank you. Yes eldest will be at school and middle will have a couple of mornings at preschool which will help give a bit of space. I be never tried him on a bottle so not sure. Could give it a go. I think the exhaustion is making me feel really negative about everything

What sort of ages did it improve for you? I think the combination of a three yo and a baby so hard plus an older child. It is so full on. I love them all but the combination is tough 😭

Bump for any other words of wisdom or experience on when and how things got easier? Feel like I’m dragging myself through each day. It can’t be like this forever surely. I want to be enjoying my children again but it’s hard right now