Sleep routines for number two

[JoJessMar]

My two are 20 months and 8 weeks and I would appreciate advice/ideas on training number two to be a good sleeper, in spite of the general chaos that goes with life around a toddler. With my eldest I maintained really good sleep routines and was careful about good associations etc (eg. bedtime feeds always upstairs in quiet, bathtime sequence every day etc) and she's been great. Can't really see how this will work with the two of them - bedtime with dd1 is far from peaceful and I can't see a way of preparing dd2 for a calm sleepy night. (haven't even attempted a bath with them both!).
I suppose this is about routines generally, which I haven't got my head round for two, and I know some of you will just say 'go with the flow' but I do like a bit of predictability and more importantly a good night's sleep!

[Nemoandthefishes]

I have a ds4,dd12 and dd21 and I did it so that when youngest was a baby they had their routine done last so was about an hour after toddler went to bed. So they had time to establish a good going to bed routine etc. Now DD2 goes to bed first and when she is asleep dd1 goes as they share a bedroom. Ds generally picks a bed time until 8pm then he nows he HAS to go.

[firststeps]

JoJessMar, I have DS1 aged 2.3 and DS2 aged 16 weeks, we bath the baby first then the toddler and give them both their milk on the settee before bed. DS2 goes to bed at about 6.45pm and DS1 at about 7ish. It is far noisier than DS1's routine ever was, but we keep the sequence of bath bottle and bed the same every night which I think is more important than peace and quiet - like you I used to do the bedtime feed with DS1 upstairs in the dark, DS2 has his in front of the Night Garden with DS1 twittering on, the phone ringing, tea cooking etc etc! but DS2 still goes to bed and to sleep no problem because he associates his bath and bottle with bedtime. Like you we like a bit of predictability and more importantly getting our night together once they have gone to bed at 7pm. HTH

[firststeps]

PS we find as well that if we put DS2 to bed about 20 minutes before DS1 then he is usually in a deep enough sleep that if DS1 decides to sing or chat to himself before he goes to sleep it doesn't disturb him.

[JoJessMar]

Thanks for the advice - that description of bedtime with Night Garden and lots of noise sounds very familiar! I am loath to do anything that stretches bedtime any later than 7pm, so that's really helpful.
I just need to pluck up the courage to introduce the double bath....I know it's time.

[firststeps]

Hi JoJessMar, we use a bath seat like this for DS2 as well which is great when they are both in the bath together as I have my hands free to stop DS1 trying to drown being over enthusiatic when playing with DS2!!

[JoJessMar]

Thanks for that. I think I have one somewhere that someone gave me, which I didn't use for DD1. I'll go hunting in the attic - sounds like it will be essential - that girl is scary enough with her baby sister on dry land!

[firststeps]

OMG I know what you mean - seriously though the bath seat is brilliant - didn't use one at all with DS1 and he was in and out of the bath in a couple of minutes as my arm used to ache and he used to slide all over the place. DS2 loves his bath and will stay in happily for 10-15 minutes sometimes.