Putting 2 to bed...how to do it alone?!

[ss581]

Have a 2.5yo and 6m old, the latter is finally starting to go to bed before the toddler. Dh usually helps bit am regularly on own at least once or twice weekly. I have put baby in sling but she is very fretful around toddler bedtime around 8, when she wants to sleep around 7ish. She is boobed to sleep too, which can take up to 40mins. Toddler if left alone would destroy house noisily.

How do ppl do it by themselves?! Baffled

[user1471446433]

Boob baby to sleep on your lap while reading to toddler, then lie between them while toddler falls asleep.

[Pleasestoplickingthetv]

Bath them both together, take baby out first, dry and dress, lay on floor by you, then take toddler out, dry and dress and put toddler in bed with Ipad, TV, book etc whilst you settle baby, then go in and settle toddler. I've done same for approx 13 months now and works fine 👌

[lornathewizzard]

Same age gap here and it can go one of a few ways -
Baby already asleep before toddler bed, toddler to bed as normal.
Baby awake but happy in front of TV on bouncer chair or in Moses basket, toddler to bed as normal.
Baby awake and fractious, comes with me to put toddler to bed, walking about with him in DD room if necessary. Toddler doesn't like me to leave the room until she's asleep.

That last ones a pain in the arse but needs must. I'm like you with normally 2 nights a week bedtime on my own. DS is also teething so last nights bedtime was not fun!

[LillyLollyLandy]

I have to put 3 to bed by myself every night.5 yo DD1, 2.5 yo DS and 5 week old DD2. Routine is key for toddler - find what works for her and do not deviate. Baby will just have to fit in with it.

[OuchBollocks]

I am crapping myself about this. My DD is dreadful for going to sleep, and got even worse when I was unexpectedly in hospital for 10 days. She's 2.7, DS is due in less than 3 weeks, and the memory of evening cluster feeds is still fresh.