Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

definately a lot worse even when 1 sleeps through the night..

there are days I find myself falling asleep on the couch feeding the little guy while my big boy is running around

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

Posted by BethanyLynn

Yikes...you ladies are scaring me! Due w #2 in June- DD will be 16 months. I am doomed for a life of no sleep!!!

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

Message edited 1/21/2011 3:00:38 PM.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

For me it was worse only because I couldn't take a nap when the baby was asleep bc my 2 year old was awake. Granted as soon as I could I put them on the same afternoon nap schedule and that is my down time and possible nap time if I really need it. I will say my body seems to have adjusted to less sleep some what. Before I had kids I slept 10 hours a night so the transition to having 1 kid was rough. Going to 2, you are more tired but more used to being tired, if that makes sense.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

I'd love to lie to you but if you can get them on the same schedule, all the better. It's tough - particularly in the beginning.

But nothing, nothing beats the family nap when everyone takes a nap.

Keep your eye on the prize: they'll have a permanent playmate & split the cost of your nursing home.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

okay now you're making me rethink having another because I was EVIL during sleep deprived days.

But as everyone says, it's a phase and we all live through it.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

Um.... awful.

But it gets better!!!! Promise!!!

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

Posted by TaraHutch

okay now you're making me rethink having another because I was EVIL during sleep deprived days.

But as everyone says, it's a phase and we all live through it.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

for me it's a toss up. DD#1 was colicky, DD#2 slept all the time but DD#1 drove me crazy while DD#2 was sleeping. for me it was more of an emotional drain (i'm a SAHM with no help and a hubby who works crazy hours) vs. solely a sleep deprivation issue.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

i do ok with sleep deprivation, and with my second, i was pretty much used to it and not really affected by it. that said, i slept a lot less with my second. with my first, i struggled to stay awake during some of the night feedings and it was outright painful. however, i was also able to nap during the day when she napped. she would sleep for long stretches in her swing, and i could take a cat nap next to her. with my second, i couldnt put her down. she slept in my arms for 3-4 months. not kidding at all. i also was running around after a 1 year old, so there was no down time at all. i really barely slept at all. for some reason, i didn't even notice. it was like something kicked in and for 3 months, i didnt need to sleep. i dont even remember feeling tired. it was kind of weird...

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

MUCH MUCH WORSE. And, my second is a FANTASTIC sleeper. So, in the beginning it actually was better b/c she would sleep for super long stretches but, aside from the newborn stage it is a million times worse. The difference being 1. that there is no more rest time. My first is always on the go. When DD naps I can never nap or even rest. and 2. she gets sick from him. So when he is over his waking up from sickness and, back in the day, i would be able to recover, i'm on to number 2 being up from sickness. My first was and is a terrible sleeper so, even at 3 he is still up many nights and, even when he sleeps late b/c of it - she is sitll up regular time. i find there is no break at all.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

I'm sure I can find old posts that conflict with this but I think I was more tired with DS1 only b/c I wasn't used to the lack of sleep. With DS2 I expected it, and I co-slept for the first 6 months or so so I managed.
Don't get me wrong - I was tired, but it was manageable -
Or pehaps it's like the pain of childbirth - you forget so you can have another

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

OMG....I had a feeling it was going to be bad but now I'm really scared!

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

It was bad, but it wasn't terrible. I think it felt like it went quicker because I knew there was an end in sight. Like, going through it with my DD helped because when I had my son, I knew that very soon he'd be sleeping through the night and those days would be a distant memory. And I was right. It sucked while I was going through it, but honestly, I survived! And now he sleeps 12 hours a night and so does my DD, so I have some time to myself and I can sleep. And he's not even 8 months old. So it's not so bad

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

oh jesus this sounds terrible

now i'm dreading May i'm going to have to recruit some ppl to stay here with me lol

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

I used to nap with my first daughter when she was a newborn so it wasn't too bad. Now with my second daughter, she seems to always be wide awake when it's nap time for my older daughter. Without fail as soon as my older daughter wakes up from her nap, the baby goes to sleep. I think my body is just used to being tired, so I can still function during the day- but it's tough sometimes!

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

for me, it was much worse! (even though we had a baby nurse in the beginning). My DD was 18 months when DS was born, and she is up for the day between 6-7. Often times, my day would start at 3:00 am after a feeding and getting the baby back to sleep, DD was waking up for the day.

I used to nap when DD was sleeping, but once DS came along, that was done. Plus, my DS does not sleep during the day. Maybe a 20 minute cat nap here or there.

Even now that he is STTN (meaning until 5:30am), I am still I don't remember it being this bad when it was just DD. With one, I always had SOME downtime, but with an almost 2 year old and a 5 month old, there is NO downtime for me until they are both in bed for the night.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

Ok, clearly I'm in the minority, but I didn't think it was that bad. I think you are just used to the sleep deprivation and learn how to function better. I'm on DS #3 and I feel like it's not as bad. Although ask me this question next week when I go back to work.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

It wasn't too bad, it was just an adjustment. My now 19 month old has been STTN since she was 3 months old but recently has started with the night tremors so she's up all the time.

And our 6 month old has constant croup and other breathing issues so i'm always up with one or the other.

honestly, we just got to the point where we take turns, me and DH, we read each others signs as to who needs the sleep more and we sometimes just put them in the bed with us so we can get some sort of sleep. You got to do what works best for you, and right now that's our best option and we're both pretty well rested most of the time.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

It is worse. It's much harder when you can't nap when they baby does because your 20 month old is running around. There were some mornings when I woke up in tears after getting only an hour and a half sleep (combined), crying because I didn't know how I was going to care for older DS. Thank God my mom was off (she's a teacher) so she was able to help me a lot in the beginning. But I am always EXHAUSTED. DS only takes one nap...sometimes I can get DD's nap to coincide with his, but more often not. I am just always tired. I miss sleep dearly, and cannot wait for it to return.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

For us, the first 3 months after DD#2 got here were absolutely HORRID. She was colicky and NEVER slept at night. Then, DD#1 started waking for the day between 5 & 5:30. She would be up before the other one went to sleep!

But, by some stroke of luck, the day DD#2 turned 3 months, she started sleeping through the night. I'm still exhausted from running after a toddler all day, but the worst *seems* to be over.

One thing I suggest: If you're comfortable with it, put the baby right in its room when you get home from the hospital. You will sleep so much better if you don't hear every little grunt and groan during the night - the baby might, too!

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

I think it's harder. We are lucky that DS is a great sleeper (he's 3.5). My DD is inconsistent (she's 11 months) so some nights are good, some are rough. BUT there are times DS will get up to pee or has a night terror and of course it happens on night my DD decides to STTN or vice versa. I guess its only really harder b/c now there are more reasons you can be getting up. However both my kids are last sleepers, so they dont get up till anywhere b/t 7-8:30 in the morning. It's so helpful esp on the nights where me and my DH have been up with one or both of them.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

DH and I breed the worst sleepers known to man- so this is a subject I'm well-versed in.

Yes. The sleep deprivation is horrendous. But I swear it hasn't been to the point where I can't function. It was bad, but like the lobotomy we all go through at the 12 week mark that makes us forgot the evil-ness of newborns, you just forget how bad once you're through it. I did and wound up wanting and having a third (you think sleep deprivation with TWO is bad?!?!)

Look- it sucks, it does. BUT- it's so totally worth it. It's such a short period of time in our lives. And really, what's the alternative? You'll do what you have to do and eventually you'll be rewarded with a full night of sleep again.

Re: BTDT Moms, how bad is sleep deprivation with 2 kids compared to 1?

I guess I got lucky because I never felt sleep deprived.
#1 only woke 2 time a night up until 10 weeks and then slept 12 hours and rarely woke up. Up until he was 8 months old he would sleep from 6-6, then it was 7-7 up until he was about 2 years old. Now at 4.5 almost 5, he wakes around 7:30 and goes to bed around 8. I know he woke up a few times but I guess not enough for me to remember.
#2 followed 14 months later and she would wake 2-3 times a night, then down 1 time a night until 8 months old. Then she went 12 hours also.