u/opendoorscleanfloors

My toddler just turned 2 last month & baby is 6 months old, both girls.

My toddler loves her baby sister, she just so badly wants to be able to play with her. It’s rarely ever smacking, it’s more constant cuddling and rubbing her face over her but very roughly. With the cuddles she will try and lay right on top of her, she bonks their heads together trying to kiss the baby, squishing while laughing and saying “oooh so cute” just general rough loving. my baby is starting to cry anytime my toddler comes near her and it’s making me sad.

My toddler is quite good at communicating so I’ve tried talking to her, showing her how to play gently, given her soft toys to play with her sister. I have to take my toddler with me every time I leave the room because even if I put my baby in a swing or the playpen, my toddler is climbing the swing and laying on top of her or throwing toys in the playpen or trying to climb it

Is this just a phase I’ll have to deal with until my baby is a bit bigger and can handle a bit of a rougher play time?

I have a 5 month old and a 2 year old, right now my 5 month old can only fall asleep if nursed to sleep. She was a great sleeper and napper (would sleep anywhere and through any noise) up until I got sick a couple weeks ago, I didn’t have the energy to bounce her so I fed her to sleep. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to get her to sleep unless she’s nursing.

I feed her to sleep at night then transfer her to her cot, she will wake once or twice then go back to sleep. Im not too worried about changing our night routine, I enjoy the bonding time of it being just us two. But for nap times, I have my 2 year old needing something or wanting me to play, it’s not fair to her for me to be nursing the entirety of my babies nap.

I’m wanting opinions on if this will confuse my baby if I do Ferber for naps but still nurse to sleep for night time & is this practical with having to keep up with my toddlers activities? (Swimming lessons, gymnastics, outings etc) it’s unavoidable to be out of the house during some of her nap times.

Any advice would be helpful, thank you!