Infant and 2 Year Naps

I agree with Dana on the quiet time, we still do that with our 3 yr old almost every day. We are to the point he will only actually sleep once a week or so, but he needs a rest. Even if he doesn't sleep he is in a better mood later that night then if he played the whole nap time. He always falls asleep in the car too when he's tired. I dread nap/bed time too b/c he and our 6 mo old share a room. We have to put her in our room for naps and then for bed until he is asleep and then we move her to her crib. I also do the nap in the carseat thing- she slept in it for 3 hrs last week- oops! :) My kids both loved to nap in the swing at home, maybe try that while baby is little. They also loved to comfort nurse to sleep, my 6 month old still does most naps and bedtime. I wish she would put herself to sleep more, but its prob my fault. Def get some soft music for baby to get used to- LOVE this soothe seahorse I got for my girl after reading great reviews on it. She loves it too. I've seen at any store with toys. Plays 5 min of nice calm music and glows. Just keep trying, you will get through it!

I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old and at times sleep can be dicey, it sort of goes with the territory, hey!

1) What sort of sleep situation does your 2 year old have? My 2 year old is in a twin bed but her room is gated. She naps about 75% of the time. In the last little while I haven't been fighting the days where she doesn't nap, I just let her know it's quiet time and she can read her books or play with her shoes (she doesn't have toys in her room), but that she has to be quiet and if she's tired she can go to sleep.

The biggest thing that stands out is that your newborn is still very much a newborn, and that is going to manifest is weird ways for the older child. We dealt with about two months of sleep issues with our older one. The gate meant she was contained, and for the most part I just ignored her for an hour. That sounds mean, haha, but she needs the downtime too.

2) At 8 weeks I was (and really, most of the time now) anything goes for naps. Babes still haven't developed a natural sleep pattern, although they might be getting closer. Just go with what works. My boy spent the first 5 months napping in his swing, which was a travel size one. I'd nurse him but him down in the swing, wait for him to fall asleep and move the swing to his room and turn on white noise (a noisy fan, radio static, a white noise machine - I'm in Florida so it's a fan). 8 weeks is still so young! It won't be long before there is more of a pattern! At that age I'd try to get the babe down every 1.5 hours, but I'm a huge fan of the swaddle, white noise and swing.

Both my kids have white noise, which helps drown out the other noise so I don't have to tip toe around the house.

Hang in there. :) There are some super exhausting days, I know! I go to the gym everyday where I have childcare, and that is my break and most days my sanity saver.

If you are finding that your 8wk. old son wants to nurse 24/7 are you sure he is getting enough. That would be first on the list. Most babies who nurse are usually about every 2-3hrs. and sleeping most of the time inbetween.
I would try putting him in his crib/basinette with a musical toy that straps on the side. If your son is okay playing in his room and he is quiet then the baby should sleep. Driving them around to fall asleep is okay once in a while but they soon learn that hey mommy will take me out to fall asleep. Not something you can always do. Maybe even try with your 8wk.old putting him in a stroller and rocking him back/forth. Wrap him warmly in blankets, using a receiving blanket first a little tighter so he still feels the womb effect, and another over that. I wish you the best of luck, your wearing yourself out and remember mommies aren't allowed to get sick. Take care

Our son was 21 months when our daughter was born.

He's always been one to stay awake if there's something to interest him. Interestingly, though, I could get him to fall asleep (with me and our daughter) if I put a movie on and then put the TV on the sleep timer.

Worked like a charm every day. Our daughter was a little fussier as an infant, but we usually all got a good nap during those few weeks of maternity leave.

It could be he's phasing himself out of naps earlier than other kids - in which case, I'd make him have quiet time in his room for 90 minutes-2 hours each afternoon. As long as the environment is safe with quiet toys and books, we've done that with our son. Without fail, we'll go up 30 minutes later and find him fast asleep in a pile of books on his bed.

Use a sling to carry the newborn(over the shoulder baby holder is a great one, and they give you a DVD to show the corecct way to wear your baby) it was a lifesaver with my first, and will be essential when o have my second(in eight weeks!). Babies can nap and nurse in a sling or carrier. Mine is truly a lifesaver!