Routine for 1year old and 2 year old

[PretzelPrincess]

Our DS are almost one and almost 2, there's a 13 month age gap. Currently DH is home in the evenings and we do bed and bath time together so it's quite easy. Circumstances are about to change though so DH is no longer going to be around in the evening so I will be on my own, please help me come up wit a new routine!
Currently we bath them together around 8pm. DH will then take DS2 downstairs and give him a bottle and he will fall asleep with DH downstairs. DS2 is quite an easy baby if I'm honest.
I will take DS1 to bed and lie with him until he falls asleep. This can take anywhere between 5 mins to an hour. On a good day we will do a story and kisses and he will lie down with minimal fuss and sleep. On a bad day like last night, he will fight to get out of bed over and over and cry himself hysterically to sleep
Any tips please? Anyone in a similar situation?

[icklekid]

Can you feed dc2 whilst sat next to ds1 in bed? Might need to get ds1 used to you sitting not lying but you could rub his back? Or give ds2 bottle first and him used to going to sleep in cot whilst ds1 listens you audio story then you go and lie with him until both asleep?

[captainproton]

Hi my eldest have same age gap and are now 3 and 2. DH is out of house from 7-7 so really I did it all. My 2 would wake up about 6am, the youngest would have had a morning nap. Lunch was at 1130-1200, both went for an afternoon nap at 1300 with a milk. I never woke them and let them come to on their own. Tea was about 1600-1630 and then I got them ready for bed at about 1800. I only bathed them twice Max a week and DH did a bath on a Sunday. Both kids bathed at same time, had everything laid out ready, so it was over with quickly. If kids were not asleep by time DH got home he'd do more stories etc.

By time youngest was 2, they've gone for a later 7pm getting ready for bed time. But honestly at the first sign of tiredness it's time to get ready. Otherwise they go beyond it. For us 8pm would be too late.

[FATEdestiny]

I think you are probably going to have to bite the bullet and get DS1 going to sleep on his own. I would definitely do this sleep training while you still have DH around at bedtime rather than coping on your own.

Then you should be able to bath them, dry and into PJs all together. Then give DS2 his bottle while reading DS2 a story. Kiss and nan-night to DS1, followed immediately by kiss and nan-night for DS2.

Getting them both into this kind of good habit will be better for everyone long-term, but will be hard work initially.

14 month age gap between my eldest two (now aged 10 and 11). I know how much hard work it is.

[Frazzled2207]

When my ds1 had just turned 2 we had to sleep train- previously like with your eldest we had to sit with him and also having a ds2 it just wasn't sustainable.
We basically left him to cry, we initially intended to go back every 5, 7, 9 etc minutes but that made it worse so we left him to it.
Four nights of hell but six months have passed and every night since he's settled himself.
Has also stopped crying in the night.
Now it's not for the faint hearted and can only be done if you and dp are 100% committed but it will work. Btw we had to keep the younger bot downstairs while we did it.