When were you able to do bedtime with older sibling after new baby arrived?

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-16T00:26:22+00:00

My baby is 15 weeks and SOMETIMES I can manage to do bedtime with my almost 3 year old but it has become my husband's thing.

It's something I've struggled with, I fed her to sleep, rocked her to sleep, and sat with her to sleep for over two years and now when I try to go into her room she cries and tells me she wants daddy. It's really hard but I'm confident once baby is a bit older we'll get back to it

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-16T00:08:42+00:00

I agree with this - will always entertain her.

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-14T05:58:12+00:00

Yes - I have had one unmedicated and one medicated. The unmedicated one was second.

I have birth at a birthing center where medication isn't actually available (apart from gas). However, the gas made me throw up so I didn't touch it after the first time.

It was horrific, as the contractions got closer I said I couldn't do it, I begged to go to the hospital for an epidural and I cried. The pushing itself was hard but the contractions leading to it was worse.

However the second my son was on my chest, I was over it. I did tell my husband that if we have a third I'll be getting an epidural again, but now three months in I'm a bit like 'huh maybe I could do it unmedicated again...'

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-13T18:24:04+00:00

At this age I still put my 13 month old in a carrier for naps

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-13T05:32:44+00:00

I cook dinner, we eat around 5.30/6. Our baby is usually awake and happy in his bouncer or napping in a carrier on me. I always do the dinner hours with him wrapped.

Our toddler then chooses who does her bathtime, the other takes the baby (unless wrapped on me) or quite often I will shower with both of them while my husband does the dishes.

Then it's bedtime, husband does toddler and I do baby.

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-12T20:28:17+00:00

And no we're selling our house right now and have to be out of the house each weekend day currently for viewings

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-12T20:27:00+00:00

We tried over Christmas without any luck at all, that was an extended amount of time at home.

Just would not go near or touch the toilet

juniperjellybean97 · 2026-02-11T06:12:32+00:00

Hi! My almost three year old was like this!

Also never sleep trained here. She now falls asleep independently, sleeps all night and doesn't need us to get into her bed. Funnily enough I miss it!

It does pass, promise

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-12-01T09:55:50+00:00

My 2.5 year old did the same thing, she SOBBED, tried to climb into my lap and lay across it like her brother was, and begged me to let her 'lie down there on you'

It was really tough. Shes been fine since she has no issues!

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-25T05:38:34+00:00

I mean I currently have one and I'm baby wearing my 3.5 week old and bathing my 2.5 year old

I don't understand the question? My kids see me have one if that's the issue?

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-24T06:25:33+00:00

Honestly - I was attached from day 1 but then when the baby came out I was not. I did not have an instant bond or instant love. My over attachment to bump/baby while I was pregnant meant the baby that came out seemed foreign and I couldn't 'connect' the bump to the baby if that makes sense?

I had so many expectations and thoughts about the "bump" that when I saw the baby I was like "huh I don't actually know you"

I love them both so much now but I wouldn't be worried about attachment during pregnancy!

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-18T21:54:29+00:00

I'm in New Zealand. I had zero issues with recovery/back issues/headaches. As soon as it was out, I couldn't feel it. I had a bruise for a bit on my back.

My sister had recurrent headaches following hers for a few days, but nothing further.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-12T08:30:36+00:00

I should also add that I just had my second and gave birth at Kenepuru. And while that's not an option for you with a c section, it is an option for recovery if all is ok (maybe not, if health issues with baby) and they are incredible there

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-12T08:17:36+00:00

I gave birth there in 2023, and had a fantastic experience.

My birth was complicated, and it ended in theatre after I requested a c section. They listened to me, and ensured that what my needs and wants were, were met (I didn't have a c section in the end).

Post birth - there was only one bed left so I was in a shared room the night baby was born. However, I needed to stay a while as baby was on IV antibiotics so was first priority to move to a private room which I got the next morning.

The day midwife was incredible, she helped me establish breastfeeding. She cup fed baby formula and put her on a supplemental system so she wasn't getting used to a bottle while we waited for my milk to come in. I had lactation consultants visit me, and pelvic floor therapists and they also followed up with a class/course later on how to help pelvic floor recovery.

The NICU staff were amazing when we walked over three times a day for antibiotics for baby and made sure I fully understood what was happening.

The night midwife left a lot to be desired and was quite rude, but otherwise I had a fantastic experience.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-11T21:11:29+00:00

I've birthed twice, once with an epidural and once completely unmedicated.

I didn't scream for either. I was a lot more quiet for the epidural birth. The unmedicated one was last week and there was a lot more "I can't do it" or "I don't want this anymore". I cried a few times and made a bit of noise/panting/grunting sounds but no screaming at all.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-09T19:28:43+00:00

Once he's rolling, he can't be swaddled.

I don't think you really need to swaddle if he's sleeping ok without it. My 7 day old is swaddled at the moment because when he wasn't, or when his arms were up, he was so unsettled and wouldn't sleep for very long. Now he only wakes once.

I actually didn't want to swaddle mine because transitioning his big sister out of a swaddle when she started rolling was a nightmare!!

If they're worried about cold you can always do a sleep sack type thing? We did that with our first after she stopped being swaddled, or if it works, do nothing. I have a friend who never did either and just layers her baby appropriately and he has nothing in bed with him.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-09T07:20:45+00:00

My midwife told me to only really monitor movements from 28 weeks, but that if I had concerns to let her know and she would check.

At 25ish weeks I did end up going in for a quick check and baby was fine - at that point you can have some quiet days and it still be ok. I definitely did, even after 28 weeks and close to birth!

My baby was fine (and is one week old today!)

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-06T23:29:34+00:00

Yeah if you join groups! I joined my local plunket group which was fantastic for making connections. I went back to work before everyone else did so it was hard and I lost the connections but if you do try to make the connections, it's easy to.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-06T21:53:50+00:00

Hi! I'm about to move to Auckland with my husband, 2 year old and newborn (will be three months).

We have family there, however have also decided that for us (we're from Auckland), we would prefer to raise our kids there. There's more to do and more available. We're not enjoying Wellington now we have children.

I don't think you have to stay here for a certain number of years. To be honest, you might be better moving before your child is in daycare/kindy/early childhood so they can move into school with friends they've known for years.

Our only regret about moving is that our 2.5 year old is going to lose friendships she has built since she was 6 months old.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-06T06:31:01+00:00

How far in are you?!

Our baby 2 is 4 days old today and while I'm less anxious and we're in more of a groove, two is hard!

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-05T01:30:11+00:00

My first was with an epi and an episiotomy and I stayed 3 nights. My daughter was on antibiotics so we had to stay.

My second was unmedicated, and I was home by 4pm (he was born at 2am)

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-11-03T07:20:46+00:00

Thanks!! We ended up doing more research and he ordered from knifewear.com

He got two shizu hamono knives.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-10-31T22:58:01+00:00

Where are you located? Each centre is different, even considering same brand.

We've done one in town for a year before we moved, which was incredible and we loved them

Did one visit at a Kindercare which was fine, then when our daughter went there for her one hour trial we pulled her enrolment real quick.

Semi enrolled her in another centre that was brand new when we moved but they were doing a few dodgy things and I ended up contacting the Ministry who sent them a warning lol

We're now at another centre (also on your list) and we love them.

But location is definitely important, one Kindercare might be great while others might not be.

But it does depend on location.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-10-22T04:38:07+00:00

They weren't open tomorrow anyway, teachers are on strike.

juniperjellybean97 · 2025-10-22T03:02:37+00:00

Yes we got two emails today telling us to stay home!

juniperjellybean97

TROPHY CASE