Long night wakings and exhaustion

Mine is nearly 8 weeks and we've yet to have a single night in the cot. We take shifts to hold him whilst he sleeps at night (it's frustrating as he's actually sleeping a decent amount at night, but if I lie him on his back even on a comfy pillow after a while he's writing with gas, I tried to put him down at 3am and he pooped himself awake at 3 30 🤣, when he's asleep in my arms like he is now it doesn't seem to bother him 🙄), I'm just lucky my husband has extended pat leave. Is there anyone you can draft in to help in the day so you can get a nap? My toddler is in nursery 3 days a week and tbh those days feel like a holiday with how much work it is to have them both at home over Friday to Monday so I feel your pain.

Keep telling myself this phase is temporary, that helps a bit too.

Me & my husband are sleeping in separate rooms so that 1 of us wakes with the baby, 1 of us with the toddler so we're not being woken up every time either one of them are awake and that's helped a lot. Could you do that? If you don't have a spare room....sofa?

Also does the baby get comfortable with you? You could co sleep if so. We've chest slept from day dot just to maximise everyone's sleep

It’s hard…the only thing I can recommend that helped with our sleep is to take shifts. My husband is also back at work, we put both the toddler and baby down at 7-8pm. I go to bed at 8, husband takes the shift till midnight. Then it’s my turn. This gives both of us at least a 4hr solid stretch. x

It’s not for everyone but we safe co sleep. Husband is in spare room as he’s back to work and we sleep better separately (his snoring was waking baby) I have always co slept and my children have slept through from 5-6 months to today. I sleep on one side baby in middle with blanket no quilt or pillow etc. baby side of bed has bed mesh barrier to stop from falling or rolling. Currently doing
730pm feed
2am feed
6am feed and up for day.
Babies want to be as close as possible and you can safe co sleep.

Hey, I’m also experiencing this (although I don’t have a toddler to look after). My newborn only wakes a couple of times in the night but I dread the 4 am feed because she doesn’t seem to settle after it at all. By the time she eventually falls back asleep, she wakes up 20 mins later hungry for her next bottle. Me and my husband have started doing shifts too so we both get a decent amount of unbroken sleep. Just remember, it’s hard now but it’s just a phase 💖