u/Sea_Search0812

I’m exhausted most days. I exclusively breastfeed my 5 month old and he’s still waking up about 3x overnight. I work a full 40 hour week and take care of my toddler and baby half my shift each day. My husband is in charge of cooking all our meals and meal preps 3 meals (every couple of days). He does help with my toddler up until 1pm everyday before he goes to work and in between feedings he gets our younger baby too. I was working from home before we had our babies and thought it would be the most convenient in terms of childcare.. at the time before I got pregnant my job was very much chill until they sold the company, management changed and now I am glued to my monitors.

My toddler used to nap 2 hours and it gave me some time to focus on my work and then only have him do independent play for the last hour of my shift.

Now his naps are as short as 40 mins that I have to get him to entertain himself for 2.5-3 hours. I don’t blame his boredom and I know he doesn’t understand I’m working but I hate that I have to push him away from my desk and he just wants interaction from me. :/

The entire time I now also have a fussy 5 month old who only naps 30 mins every couple hours. My 5 month old also doesn’t like to be held for too long, he doesn’t like tummy time and only likes the playmat for a short time. Oh and baby wearing him is just as bad. He arches his back and yells like he doesn’t enjoy it but the moment I lay him down he cries even louder.

I feel hopeless sometimes and doubtful that I am a good mom. My job is so stressful but we need the income. raising both my kids but I feel like I’m not mentally there, I’m so drained :/.

I feel like I’m always go go go and no time to breathe. I tried waking up earlier to get “me time” but I’m so tired from the overnight wakings I sleep in until my toddler gets up. From 9-10pm every day I’m in mom mode/work mode. Then I stay up until 1am so I can just be in silence. I feel horrible that this is my reality. I love my kids so much and want to be better for them.

Any work from home moms that have tips on how to juggle things better? I miss my kids so much yet I’m with them 24/7. I feel like I’m not even with them.

My baby has outgrown the bedside bassinet and I purchased the Child Craft 4 in 1 crib. I built it Sunday and that night up until yesterday I had my baby sleeping in there. I thought nothing of that “new furniture smell”. but last night I started having a bit of anxiety and couldn’t sleep researching about the smell and never thought it was a thing. I feel bad for having my baby sleeping in there for 3 days/nights for naps and bedtime. He doesn’t seem to have any reactions and doesn’t look like he is in discomfort my bed is right next to his crib and I just kept smelling that strong scent. The whole bedroom smells like it. Every time I walk in and while I’m laying in bed too. Of course this has me overthinking to the point I can’t sleep and had my baby sleeping with me in my bed last night since there was at least a 2 foot space in between his crib and the center of my bed. In hopes that he won’t be smelling it too much. Am I over thinking this? Do I need to put it in a spare room to air off??

I have been a bit extra cautious since he’s been discharged.