Toddler and newborn - what's your bedtime routine?

[breadandhoney]

We want to start to eatablish a bedtime routine for Dd2 (6weeks). She currently sleeps in living room til we go to bed and there isnt much distinction between daytime sleep and nighttime sleep. DD1 is 2.6 and her bath/bedtime routine runs from 6.15 til 7. Not sure how to fit newborn bedtime routine around this.

What does your routine look like?

[jinglesticks]

Hi, I have similar gap to you, 7 week old and 3 yr old. I think it's going to be a while before dd2 has anything like a bedtime routine, like you I still keep her up till I go to bed, and I think I'll continue with this until she sleeps for a lot longer. I try to make sure she gets lots of daylight and keep lights low for night feeds so she learns the difference between day and night.

But, I'd like to hear advice on how to manage dd1's bedtime routine with dd2 there! How do you give a toddler a calm peaceful bedtime with a crying baby to,look after?

[PilchardsonToast]

Hi I've got a 12 week old and a 2.9 dd, we've changed dds bedtime routine by bringing it forward by 30 mins to try to fit it all together a bit better

we go upstairs at 6.30, both in the bath together, everyone in pjs then I feed ds to sleep while dd sits next to me then we go to her room and I read her a story and settle her afterwards. If dh is home (which he normally is) then he will put dd to bed, so far this is working just about ok!

[poppy283]

Hello, Dd is 2.5 and ds is 5 months. For a while now the routine has been get Dd to bed 7.30-8, then get ds in pjs, feed to sleep downstairs when he's ready and hold him for 30-45 mins while he sleeps before popping him in his cot.

The holding seems to make all the difference to his sleep, and i'm not sitting on my own in the dark for 45mins!

[Shybairns]

I have been through this stage. My DS was only 22mths when DD was born.
I breast fed DD and she clustter fed between 4pm at 10pm untill she was about 9-10 weeks. So cinstantly on the boob at DS bed time.

They both had bath at same time. More like a quick dunk for DD as she wanted more milk.

Then into jammas. If I was on my own then I some how had to bf and read a story to DS at same time. I'd then go and put DD down somewhere safe while I cuddled DS and said night night.

Then took DD downstairs to carry on feeding her till she eventually had enough and passed out. She either had her last feed and slept in mosses basket in living room or if I was tired too (which I was most nights) we finished the feeding upstairs and put her in moses basket by the bed.

This carried on till she stopped cluster feeding. ANd I realised she was having a proper bf after bath and was then happy to go to sleep for a long period.

[LaCiccolina]

This is very interesting. Ill be in ur shoes from Monday! Dd is 2. I was guessing new dd would be in Moses on floor during bath, then safe in lounge whilst I do beds for dd2 (story/milk) and probs roaring its head off til I returned after 15-20 mins. To hear how u are doing is really interesting. good luck all.
It would be lovely to have a routine at 20wks, remembering dd1 (with exasperated fondness) it was truly nearer 10 mths before I felt what I was doing was working as I hoped :(

Looking forward to it, I think...!

[ellesabe]

I have 2 girls, dd1 is 2.1yo and dd2 is 10wo.

Dd1 gets in the bath at 6:15 and dh washes her while I undress dd2.
Dd1 plays in the bath while we wash dd2 in her tummy tub.

Dh dries dd1 in the bathroom while I give dd2 baby massage and dress her in the lounge.

Dh takes dd1 to her room to dry hair, give milk, brush teeth, read story, pray and put to bed.
I take dd2 to our room to bf and put down in Moses basket.

I have only put them both to bed on my own twice. Neither time did I manage to bath dd2 but she was quite happy to sit/sleep in her bouncy chair while I sorted dd1 out. Think I was lucky there!

[thehairybabysmum]

I did the same as Shybairns and had the same age gap.

Quite often DS2 would also fall asleep whilst I'd put him down to give ds1 his 5 mins of story and cuddles! If he wasn't settled I would just feed again once ds1 gone down.

I guess it depends on how easily your eldest goes to bed a bit?

[thehairybabysmum]

My DH used o work away so this was generally done alone.

[AngelDog]

I have a 3 y.o. and a 3 m.o. DS2 sleeps in the sling or is awake till I go to bed. So I get DS1 ready for bed as usual and just allow extra time for bf'ing / changing DS2 or bouncing him back to sleep in the sling as he needs it.

We bath DS1 in the morning. The most challenging part about bedtimes is being able to bf DS1, but I stopped feeding him in bed and moved his feed earlier so I could fit it in with whenever DS2 is awake.

[breadandhoney]

Thanks all. Agree bath/bedtime for dc1 is the most difficult bit. Dd2 was screaming bloody murder last night during story time. Luckily dd1 just ignored her and only asked that I put her out of the room while we sang our song and I put her in her cot. (90 seconds max)

I would like to bath both girls together but I think it'll be a while before I can manage that as would need to dress and bf dd2 straight afterwards. Most nights dh isn't home by bedtime so no opportunity to share the load. Dd2 is currently bathed every other morning.