Anxiety

Anyone else getting anxiety about their babies getting bigger and more mobile? Twin A is crawling all over the place now and its exhausting. Hes also starting to pull up on everything and stand up. Its really freaking me out because he needs to be watched constantly. I'm sooo tired by 8:00 pm that I'm ready to drop. They usually stay up anytime between 9:30-11:00 pm. I am mentally and emotionally drained. In the evenings I just want to sit down and take a break but there is none of that here. I'm on pins and needles even thinking about baby B when he starts. He's already rocking and rolling but not crawling forward yet. Though he is trying to pull up on things....uughhhh.. :crazy: .... what to do what to do..How do you get a break when hubbys not available?

 

When my two were starting to get mobile like that, I can remember being anxious and also amused by the fact that they were becoming mobile. What I did was gate them off in a child proof area when I needed a break and they couldn't go far and really did not need to. I also relaxed during their nap times ( I was one of those mothers that had trouble napping when they did). Hang in there!

 

If you haven't started childproofing it sounds like now is the time! I made a safe area for my girls. I baby-gated the house in a way that they had access to the living room or their bedroom only. There was nothing dangerous in those areas, so I felt comfortable going on the other side of the gates to do dishes or whatever I needed to do.

Lie down on the floor so you are the baby's level and look around for anything that might be dangerous or breakable. Some things I learned the hard way were heavy things on low bookshelves are dangerous, they will learn how to open even the most stubborn cabinets and drawers, and their hands are small enough to reach under all of my furniture for treasures.

If you feel confident that they have a safe area to crawl it will probably lower your anxiety level and then you won't have to follow them around all the time. GL!

 

We are also in the process of childproofing too. But even without that, when you do really need a break, it is perfectly ok to put them in a pack n play with a toy or book or DVD for a few minutes. Then, you can sit on the couch and relax Or put them in the highchair/bouncy and have them hang withfor 15-30 minutes. Or put them in a highchair/bouncy in in the kitchen while you do dishes and stuff and then you can have some fun company for boring chores.

 

What they said! I have my living room gated off and pretty much baby proofed, I have no problem leaving them in there to get some dishes done or change laundry around.

I also take breaks at nap time. I don't get any other breaks during the day and I need that downtime myself. If I can nap, great, but if not, I read my book or play on the computer...and I don't feel guilty about doing it either! I figure my batteries need to be recharged just as much as the babies do!

 

I agree with babyproofing an area where they can play without you having to follow them around constantly. Other than that, I just really enjoyed their naptime! :lol:

 

Yep, once you babyproof I think you might be at ease a bit more. I actually loved the cruising, crawling, and walking stage. I loved the independence that it brought.

 

i'm in the same boat. both boys are crawling now. we haven't completely baby proofed but when i've just had enough i put the big baby play pen thingy and it keeps them contained with move to get around and play with toys. it's a life saver but if you can gate off a bigger play area do it.

also maybe rethink their bedtime schedule and try and put them to bed earlier? my sons go to bed at 5pm after their last bottle and sleep until about 6am. it's great since i too have a hard time napping when they do. the quiet time in the evening is a life saver...just something to think about.

 

We're in the same boat. I have the place pretty much baby proofed... except for the tube to the nebulizer which Jace wrapped himself around today :s I agree take a break when they nap and also agree, I think I'd rethink they're bedtime, I LOVE bedtime, the earlier the better

 

Ditto the previous two posters on earlier bedtimes ... I love my "freedom" at 7 p.m.!!

 

well my husband used to work 2 full time jobs. he's a fire fighter so that's 24 hours every 3rd day that he's gone and he used to work 10 hours on his "off" shifts so he was gone ALL the time and it was just me to take care of the twins.

i'm all about schedules. we get up, they get their morning bottle and it's back to their crib until 9am when it's time for their fruits (beechnut jar baby food) and then it's play time for 2 hours, another bottle and nap until 2pm when they get up for their afternoon solids (a beechnut jarred veggie/meat combo) and then are up for play until 5pm when they really start getting cranky. they get a bottle and it's off to la la land they go. of course sometimes they'll play in their cribs for 30min to an hour before falling asleep but they are content and happy and will sleep 12 hours a night....it's a life saver for me. honestly when they were up until 10pm it would drive me cray because i NEVER got a break.

so i would definetly rethink their schedules so that you could try and get them down to bed earlier than you have been. it makes a HUGE different in YOUR temperment and ability to calmly take care of the twins since we all know how hard and draining that can be.

 

Thanks for all the replies!! I'm so greatful to have a place I can come to for all my needs. You try to do everything just right for your babies but somehow they end up running the show. They have always fallen asleep anywhere between 9:30-11:00. I go through this on a nightly basis. Ive tried putting them down earlier and it does not work out. They also sleep at different times during the day most of the time. One gets tired and goes to sleep and the other one is awake. He crys and crys and wakes the sleeping one up. So I just get him up.You can't make a child sleep unfortunately. When they get a bit older I'm just going to have to put my foot down somehow.... ardon:

 

One of my babies has become mobile and I know exactly what you are going through. I am constantly getting him out of stuff he isn't suppose to be in! I haven't completely baby proofed yet and I really need to. I don't remember any of my other children getting into stuff as much as he does. It is very exhausting!! You are not alone in this one! I am so happy to put them to bed at night and have some quiet time. My hubby is a firefighter and is gone for 24 hours shifts so doing it on my own for 24 hours is enough to drive anyone crazy!!

 

I hope I'm not overstepping here but I wanted to give you a bit of "advice"... for your sanity! Doing home daycare and having 4 kids of my own I've gotten countless kids on a schedule so I hope this will help you!! If one twin wakes up at say 8am and the other is sleeping, I let the sleeping twin go for no more than 15minutes longer. Then put them down at the same time again for naps, I've started putting a sleep cd on for the boys so they don't here ME in the morning but maybe you could put one on so that they don't hear each other?! I leave it on during the day so that they don't hear the daycare kids. Again for naps they both go down for relatively the same amount of time. If for some reason their pm nap isn't that great I'll feed them some supper and put them down for 30/45min cat nap as long as they're up by 6. Start a routine and they'll eventually go to sleep earlier. Start w 15min earlier a night and in no time you'll have some well needed time for YOU!

Again I don't want to sound like a no it all, I'm just trying to help you. You can do what you want w it