Bedtime routine with 2?

[lauraemily17]

I'm really struggling with getting my two boys to go to sleep. When DH is around it's not so bad as we deal with one each, but even then bedtime can take up to 2 hours. Its when DH is at work & I'm alone I struggle. Tonight is night 1 of 6 by myself & already I'm about to have a break down with my hyper toddler who is impossible to calm down at bedtime and my totally sleep phobic baby.

Please save my sanity & share some tips on how you handle bedtime with 2!

 

[george83]

I have no advice but just wanted to reassure you you aren't alone, I could have written your original post. I've managed to get my 3 1/2 year old into a good routine where he has no tv before bed and we play simple games or do a puzzle which is then followed by 2 stories after which he sleeps beautifully. My 16 month old literally holds us hostage at bedtime until he goes to sleep which was fine until we had our third 5 weeks ago and now im shattered and ready to crawl into bed myself at 8pm!

 

[CaptainMummy]

My girls take Turns in the shower.. Starting around 6pm. Dd2 goes in First And I get all three of their pyjamas, nappies for younger two, and towels ready whilst she plays in there (she sits in the bath with shower over her. I keep an eye on her) She comes out and I wrap her in towel and she will play whilst I quickly shower dd3 (who also sits in the bath under shower.) She only gets a few minutes and then dd1 goes in. Whilst she is in, I dress the other two. Dd1 comes out and gets dried and dressed and we all go downstairs and I feed dd3 whilst the othrr two run up and down rhe living room (they call it 'crazy time')

During showers, ae are all upstairs and stairgate is locked, so the big two are free to do as they please in the bedrooms
Dd3 goes to bed after her bottle, and I am lucky that I can put her down awake and she settles herself. I play with the big two for 10 minutes then dd2 goes up to bed (also settles in her cot with no fuss)
I then spend 30mins or so with dd1. We read/play barbies/draw basically whatever she wants to do. I then put her to bed.
bedtimes are as follows (usually around the sane time every night)
dd3 - 7pm
Dd2 - 7.15pm
Dd3 - 7.30-8pm

I am a single mum, so do it all myself. My younger two dont do snuggles, so they dont really have 'quiet time' before bed... but thankfully that works for us.

 

[bdb84]

I'm a single mom to three, so I have to be very structured or else I'm wanting to pull my hair out by the end of the evening.

We eat dinner at 6 and then DS (9) goes into the shower. After he is done, DD1 (5) and I get ours together while DS looks after the baby (2 months). We are all done around 7. From there I feed the baby one last time, change her, and cuddle her until she's drowsy. She goes down around 7:30 and then the big kids brush their teeth and I read them a story or two (or DS reads to us). They are tucked in at 8 on the dot.

Oh! And I direct both big kids to the bathroom JUST before being tucked in or that's the first thing they ask to do the moment I kiss them goodnight I also put a bottle of water by their beds, because that's another reason they NEED to get out of bed as well.