Returning to Work; Need Sleep!

It is quite normal for some babies not to sleep through the night up to 3 years or more! I suggest pumping and dividing the night duties btw you and dad (esp. if he is not working right now.) But even if he returns to work soon (and hopefully) you need to make sure you are getting sleep in a minimum of 4 hour stretches in order to maintain a minimal amount of mental clarity. If you take turns with night feedings, you both get longer stretches of sleep at a time. Also, try to go to bed earlier if possible (easier said than done, I know). Any opportunity to increase your sleep will make you more effective and efficient at work and at home as a mom.

As for chaos, I've found that focusing on what needs to be done and a certain amount of ignoring unimportant pleas and whines (except for real emergencies or urgent needs) can help get the kids on board with mommy's schedule, and not vice versa. State what needs to be done once, maybe twice, and then remain silent through the rest! It's a bit like flying through a tornado, but if you can 'stay the course', you'll all be much better off in the end. ;-)

I also agree with the earlier post about getting everything ready the night before.

I had to go back to work at 6 months with my daughter, so I can feel your pain. Here are some suggestions/answers:
- Yes, it is normal for breastfed babys to be hungry at night. Breastmilk is digested faster than formula, hence they feed more often. Once you start solids at 6 months, giving them cereal at night might keep him asleep a little longer, after we had worked ourself up to a good dinner, my daughter started sleeping through (at about 1 year old).
- Ideally you would co-sleep, so you would not miss out on sleep yourself. If that is not possible (it was not for us) go to bed as early as possible, no joking, while my daughter was night nursing I went to be at eight! That way I got enough sleep at night to make it through the day, even when I had to get up once or twice.
- If your hubby is still at home (you write he is unemployed) have him take care of EVERYTHING but nursing your baby. I loved to get up at least 1.5 hours before I had to leave, nurse and snuggle and then let Dad take over, while I was getting dressed and out the door. It also helps to have everything you need to take ready at night. I always cleaned my pump parts and got the next bottles ready right after coming home from work.
The first few months back to work are rough, but it doesn't last forever! Good luck!

I went to work when my son was 10 weeks old and waking 4 times a night, which he did until he was nearly a year, and it was grueling! I couldn't think straight. I would say expect 2 times a night until he's 6-8 months. Try going to bed earlier yourself, between 8-9, and also try having hubby give a bottle of expressed milk for the first wake-up. That will give you a longer stretch of sleep. Try to nurse baby in the midnight - 6 am time frame because the milk your body produces at that time has the highest fat content, which is great for the baby. So maybe let him wake you to nurse for the 3 am and then before you leave for work.

After he's 6-8 months and more ready to sleep for longer, if he's still waking, start watering down that bottle so it has less calories, and he'll gradually start taking more calories during the day. Watch out for growth spurts and accomodate those, though.

I know the best thing that works for me for less chaotic mornings, was the night before pack all bags for kids, Get clothes out for all of you so that way you dont have to look for the lost sock at last minute or find that missing shoe. I put it all in a pile for each of us. Leave all bags by door, so we can scoop and run.

Some babies wake up quite oftne, and one day they wont. Just dont loose your patience and you will get by.

My daughter also was not a good sleeper and now at 10 months we are almost there! It is normal for your son to want to nurse because that is his comfort and unfortuanly when you go back to work he will want that even more since you will be gone during the day. One way that we have helped this is that we haev a rule that no household chores are done until kids are in bed. We make dinner, eat, and play! Dishes can wait and it gives me and my hubby time to visit.

Short term we went to co-sleeping and that helped becasue I could nurse while I was sleeping. I was more rested and she went back to sleep almost the moment she latched. We also had an issue with GERD so this was a contributing factor.

The only issue that we have had with doing this is that she always wanted to be nursed to sleep. I was successful for a while in getting her to sleep by putting my hand on her during the night and as long as she could touch me she was ok.

This worked really well however it has caused another set of issues that I did anticapte. She was sleeping really good in her crib (in our room) till we came to bed and then she would wake up, see us and scream for up to 4 hours till she could come to bed with us.... I do not mean to scare you I just want to share my experiance.

We finally had to put her in her own room (she is 10 motnhs)and we will only go and help her go back to sleep if she really starts to cry. I know this seems a little hard but we tried all of the no cry solutions. She now sleeps really good from 7pm-4am, we are now trying to streach out the morning.

The thing that has worked best for me in getting out the door in the morning is having everything ready the night before, pump, diaper bag, coffee machine set, and clothes out. I also make sure that I give my elf an extra 20 mintues just in case. My husband also gets ready before me and then takes the baby while I get ready. You can get ready twice as fast by your self.
For your 2 year old I would see if breakfast can be with daddy while you get ready.

You will be tired for a while but it does get better.

Good luck with going back to work!