Feel like DD is missing out

[azazello]

I have a DD (3) and a DS (8m). DS is crawling, hauling himself up, standing holding on and cruising. Our house is difficult to baby proof (listed building and stone floors) so I'm chasing round after DS all the time. He's also breast fed and likes to nibble all evening. Finally he WILL NOT sleep ever. OK, may be a slight exaggeration but he's up 4+ times in the night and likes to climb and crawl at those times. We're co-sleeping as otherwise I don't sleep at all.

DD is lovely and a very active, funny little girl. She has just started a) getting pissed off with DS crawling after her toys constantly and b)the fact that I have DS pretty permanently clamped to me all evening so I can't help her with jumping/ climbing/ dancing etc. I try to read her stories but if DS is awake he either yells or plays so she gets distracted.

I feel like I'm leaving her to be looked after by DH or my mum a lot of the time and not doing anything fun just for her when she's only a baby herself. Is this normal? Should I just wait it out on the basis that DS will be more fun and capable soon? Are there any tips for things to do with bigger but still little babies and toddlers?

I'd get him a playpen so that you can confine him to a safe area during the day for a bit of time to give your DD a bit of time, and a sling that you can bf in on the move in the evening and get on with things with her. Perhaps get DH to give him a big solids meal a bit later than you might normally feed him so that you and DD get a bit of space

I had the same with ds(now 8) and dd(now 16mo). I'm afraid ds missed out a bit and was not too happy for a while with dd. Now, though, he doesn't mind having her around at all, plays with her and also she's easier to leave with dp so ds and I can go and do stuff together.

If I were you I would try to leave the baby with dh once a week so you can go and do fun stuff with dd. It's unavoidable, to certain extent, that dd will be feeling a bit left out, but it should get better in a few months.

Love the name, btw.

Get a playpen and give it to DD as her own space which DS can't invade.

Try to make a little bit of the day DD's special time which DS cannot interrupt. It may only be five minutes but that five minutes is sacred. Nothing ever interrupts it. Arrange for DH or your mum to have DS at that time if you can't rely on him to be asleep, etc.

Thanks all. I will certainly take up the suggestion of five/ten minutes pure DD time. I've not been managing it very well because it was always bedtime story time when we'd cuddle and talk about the day and I'd read stories. DD now goes to sleep about 9 and DS is always so greedy in the evening I'm about ready for bed by then so have been vletting DH do it... I will make DS manage for a few minutes without his mummy-dummy!