Any tips for peaceful bedtime routine with 3?

[mum2fo]

The nightly bedtime battles are getting me down and I am depressed that my children's picture of me in their heads as they fall asleep is not of an adoring mother but of a screaming banshee! I have DS1 4, DD1 2.5 and DD2 10 weeks. DD1 has dropped daytime nap so she's overtired by bedtime and DS1 has recently developed "an attitude". We used to have good routine but now feel that they are running wild at bedtime and it's out of control - any tips ?

[Bouquetsofdynomite]

When is bedtime? My 2 are the same age as your older ones and they watch CBeebies from 6-7, the magic of the tv switching itself off seems to have brainwashed them.
Can your DS help read bedtime story to DD?

Is your DS starting school next month? MY 4yr old is soooo ready for school we are driving each other mad.

[Nemo2007]

Dont know how you work it but I have ds [4 in oct] DD1 20m and dd2 7mths

I have set routine from tea time onwards
around 6.15pm we do reward charts
6.20pm night garden while they are watching/dancing I get milk etc ready
6.50pm go upstairs to get ready for eitther bath or bed.
7.15pm both the DDs go to bed at same time, DD2 is in cot so settle her in with milk then go to dd1 with her milk and a story.While I am doing this DS tends to go to his room to get pjs on,tidy his room[of sorts] and get into bed/pick a story.

7.30pm I go in to DS and read his story and we talk for a bit, usually leave the room by 7.45pm.

I dont have problems with them going to bed, its getting them to sleep through the night I struggle with..lol

[babyblue2]

I agree, my 2 are same age as older 2, we watch Cbeebies from 6-7 and they go to bed after bedtime song, each get a story and then thats it. Bed. Occassionally they keep getting up but we smile and tell them its bed as we're getting annoyed. They usually go to be no bother though. Must be harder though having a 10wk old. Does she go to bed at the same time or does she stop up a while. That could be the problem.

[MrsWeasley]

mine never watched the bedtime hour as it was too late! they would be too tired. If we/I wanted some tv I would record a gentle programme (like little bear etc) (or the bedtime hour) and play it an hour earlier so that it finished at 6. then a drink, tidy up and up to a bath. Not returning donwstairs again. pyjamas and a story then into bed. night night
when my DC were tiny babies I often put baby down first before story time!

HTH

[octoandflash]

ooh hello bouquets its agent finn here!

ds3 in bed at 6pm, ds1 and ds2 at 7pm ish.

ds1 6yrs
ds2 4 yrs
ds3 4 months

[Bouquetsofdynomite]

Wotcha! Is your middle one off to school too? I've had to hide the bag of uniform from Lyra.

[octoandflash]

YES HOOOOOARARARARARARARARRAAAAHHH - two weeks to go YIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEE

[Elf]

Mumtofo, I haven't really got any tips but I've been there with three as well, and when the little one is still very little, well, oh lordy and everyone's tired and oh dear. HOpe someone else helps you, in the meantime a cyber hug for you.

Actually, you said you used to have a routine so you know what's what, - I would say my tip would be to leave more time to get everyone sorted, so that you are not stressing out at least about that.

[mum2fo]

Thanks for tips, we don't have Cbeebies but I will use video perhaps whilst I settle the baby and then I can turn my full attention to the other DCs. Thinking about it my problem is how to "impose" a routine - since the baby and DS1's new attitude arrived I just feel that I have no authority anymore and kids are out of control. DH has just arrived home from work and I have related this evening's bedtime antics to him and it suddenly seems so petty that I am letting the bedtime issue get me down - what has my life become!

[Nemo2007]

mum2fo not petty and can empathise with the attitude as DS developed one 6wks ago and reduced me to being a screaming banshee. Hence last week we brought back time out, reward charts and achievement stickers in full gusto.This week has been 100 times better than any of the others. I think it also helps as he has seen me implimenting exact same techniques with dd1 even though she is too young to understand reward chart full she we knows we cheer when we get a star and boo when we dont..lol

[fawkeoff]

my dd is 4 and ds is 2, i put ds down for the night at 7pm.

then i let dd have one to one time with me for half an hour, this gives ds time to settle to sleep without dd disturbing him, and she gets time on her own without ds annoying her.

[fawkeoff]

and totally agree with bribary
i have the sticker chart in full swing and pennies for her money jar

[cba]

ds1 6 ds24 dd 2

This is our routine.

5.30pm bath, ds2 first with dd, then ds1 / any combination of that or all three together

6.00pm milk for all three

6.15 upstairs with ds2 for story time and cuddles.

6.30 > 6.45 bed

dd 6.45 bed with story

ds1 supper whilst putting dd to bed.

7.15pm read for 30mins or so chat etc.

7.45 bed

Yes I know dd stays up later than ds2, he needs more sleep than everyone else. It has been known for him to sleep from 6.00pm until 10.00am the next day