Napping when Baby Naps - plus pre-schooler

[Lavenderdays]

Currently heavily pregnant with dc3. dc1 is at secondary school so doesn't usually re-appear until 4.30 pm, dc2 is due to start primary school in September. DC3 due any day now.

After a particularly bad night (pregnancy related), I woke up wondering how I am going to function with a waking new born - every 3-4 hours mostly likely judging by dc1 and 2. Both dc's tended to sleep better when they started on solids at 6 months (which more or less coincides with dc2 starting school). I remember trying to nap when baby napped previously - dc1 was already at school at the time so had a few hours in which to do so. The problem is dc2 is at pre-school half days (she is four but becomes tired and then irritable, so thought it best to keep to half days). I will struggle to nap with baby and dc2 in the same room because dc2 might unintentionally hurt the baby - i.e try to feed it or something whilst I nap. The only way I can see me getting a nap is sticking my four year old in front of the TV (downstairs) with stair gate to kitchen etc. closed and me and baby upstairs (with possible stairgate on my bedroom door - crib will be next to my bed) but I don't entirely feel relaxed doing this.
Another option is upping dc2's pre-school hours which isn't ideal and might not make too much difference anyway unless I stick her in aftercare...which would mean an even longer day (but dh could possibly collect her in this scenario)
I think lack of sleep affects my mood quite badly, I also worry about driving around exhausted (dc's pre-school is situated outside of the village where I live, whereas her intended primary school is a 10/15 minute walk).
It all feels like a bit of conundrum (we have no extended family and no-one to share lifts to pre-school with).
Any suggestions for maximising sleep in this situation? I am hoping to have good days as well as the feeling really exhausted days...just haven't got my head around this as the previous gap meant that dc1 had already started school and therefore I wasn't forced to drive etc.
Anyone with similar aged children...what did you do?

I did what Anna did. Toddler sat next to me and watched Netflix on iPad while I drowsed in bed. Not ideal parenting but not dangerous and helped me cope with terrible non-sleeping baby. It was never for very long periods as baby didn’t sleep (day or night) for longer than an hour until he was 1! In your case you know it’s only 6 months so just do what you need to survive!

Elisheva, thanks for posting...that is what I'm doing currently - having quiet time with dd2 in the afternoons because I don't feel up to very much (37 weeks now) plus she tends to use up lots of energy at pre-school in the mornings, so it is working quite nicely. Later when dd2 starts school, I will set an alarm like you have suggested...I think I did that when dd1 was at primary and dd2 was a new born - it all seems like a blur...I am sure it will come back to me!

I’m heavily pregnant with my 3rd. My others are 5 and 2. Tbh, my plan is to just suck it up. My youngest isn’t eligible for any hours until next January when he’s 3 so he’s going to be permanently at home with me. Bad days shall be saved by an iPad and a sofa doze. It’ll be fine, it’s a short period of time.

I put a tv in my bedroom. 2 year old gets into bed with me and watches tv while I snooze, baby in a cot next to me and a stair gate on my bedroom door so no one can escape!

I have a 2 year old and newborn... well hes 8 weeks now..both tag team in the night... my husband has been brilliant trying to settle the baby if he won't go back down, or going into the toddler who we think is having night terrors.

I am knackered, baby wakes every 90 mins but will occasionally sleep for a 3 ir 4 hour stretch. We co-sleep for some of the night which means i feel well rested and when DH is off work he leaves me to sleep with the baby until after 9. My 2 year old will not watch films etc and so coffee gets me through! And the odd "lazy" morning when i mooch on the sofa and let the toddler play with every single toy.

Tbh be grateful you will have some time with just the newborn, use those mornings to rest whilst dd is at nursery. It will make all the difference!

Yes, Mammy, I am grateful that dd is at pre-school - during heavy pregnancy, I have used that time to just take it easy, I am very grateful to have that facility as we have absolutely no extended family or friends with children the same age as dd. It must be tough looking after a toddler and a new born, very tough at times, unless you have lovely, supportive family around x