Nightime routines for new baby and toddler

[BigmommaD]

With the imminent arrival of DC2 I wanted to see what evening and bedtime routines you all have for new baby and toddlers (DC1 is 3).

DH is away a lot so hopefully it will all go well...emphasise on hopefully!

Thanks for your help

TBH I didn't manage to ever get a successful bedtime routine when DS2 was newborn as he was so unpredictable but by around 3 months it went (& still does at 7 mths) something like this:

If it's a bath night (2-3 times a week) then it's tea for DS at 5:30pm followed by a bit of a play. At 6:15pm I'll bathe DS2 while DS1 watches TV then once he's washed, dried & dressed I'll call DS1 up, get him in the bath with some toys to entertain him while I feed DS2 then put him to bed. Once DS2 is down (7pm latest) get DS2 washed, dried & dressed, bit of a play if there's time otherwise story & lights out for 7:30pm

If it's not bath night we tend to have family supper a bit later (6:15ish) and as soon as we're done DS1 will either play or watch TV whilst I take DS2 up to bed & feed. 7pm I'll come back down to either play or leave him watching TV whilst I drink wine clear up then bed for 7:30pm.

I'd definitely be aiming to get DS2 in bed & asleep a good half hour before DS1's bedtime so he gets some quality time alone with you or your OH. I do remember many occasions in the early days (when he'd cluster feed in the evening) making & eating dinner or getting DS1 into bed or reading a bedtime story with DS2 feeding & it didn't seem to bother him too much as long as he was actually fed
HTH
LeChatNoir

That's what I was looking for lechatnoir, dd1 is quite a handful at the best of times so need some semblance of order.

Thanks again

The first few weeks were a nightmare tbh with lots of jiggling a grumpy DS2 (who wanted to cluster feed all evening) while trying to get DS1 bathed (he needs a bath and slathering in eczema creams every night which complicated matters). But it soon settled into place, like lechatnoir probably when DS2 was about 3mo.

We put DS1 (2.11) to bed first because since dropping his nap he needs more sleep at night than DS2 (now 9mo). So upstairs at 6.30ish, DS1 has a bath while DS2 watches (in bouncy chair or sling when newborn, now he crawls around picking bits of fluff off the bathroom floor). Then I get DS1 dried, creamed and into PJs (DS2 would go in crib with mobile when little). I do bedtime stories with both of them in DS1's room then tuck DS1 in, then give DS2 a quick bath and BF before he goes to bed. Most nights they are both asleep before 7.30.

I do it by myself most nights (sometimes DH is on hand to look after DS2) and (like everything else with two DC) it's fine now I'm in the swing of it. I am looking forward to when they can both go in the big bath together though!

In fact I started a v similar thread here when DS2 was two weeks old and I was struggling! Hard to remember now, it was tough at the time but it got better quickly

Hi. We have a v. simple routine. It consists of taking DS2 upstairs at around 6pm, or whenever he starts yawning (today it was 5.30pm) and doing a quick feed to sleep, then putting him in his hammock. He also has a bath on the nights DS1 is in nursery or hubby comes home early. That started when DS2 was about 6 weeks.

DS1 we sort out later on. If DH isnt home by the time I put DS2 to bed, theres no bath, I just bring dS1 upstairs and let him play in his bedroom. Or leave him downstairs and hope he doesnt migrate upstairs before DS1 falls asleep cos he makes a lot of noise, but Ds1 is so knackered he eventually conks out anyway! DS1 is playing up a lot at the mo and not going to bed till about 8 or later.

To be honest I wonder if DS2s nights are screwed up a bit and I should get him to bed later, which means his sleeping would be better because he tends to wake at 4 and not really settle after that. However my attempts to push back bedtime have so far not worked!

I found it all a bit of a mess to begin with but within a couple of weeks we had settled into a fairly standard evening routine: I would have DD2 in sling while preparing tea for DD1 (who might be watching a bit of TV at that time), tea at 5.30ish and I would sit at the table and bf DD2 while DD1 was eating. Bath at 6pm ish. DD1 into bath first then I would undress DD2 and pop her briefly into a bath support for a quick rinse then she would be out again, maybe add a bit more hot water for DD1 who would stay in the bath playing etc while I dressed DD2. DD2 into bouncy chair while I got DD1 out and dressed. Into DD1's bedroom for stories etc, DD2 in bouncy chair if possible while i read stories but if she was crying then on my lap. Then pop DD2 into her cot briefly (5 mins) while I said goodnight to DD1, DD2 would often cry but I felt it was important to have a couple of mins saying goodnight to DD1, singing a lullaby etc. Then back to DD2, feed her again and into bed (hopefully!) by about 7.30pm, or downstairs with me in the moses basket if not.

If DH was around then easier obviously!

Thanks all for your tips, hopefully all will fall into place and DD1 will be a good girl

Looks like most of you get baby sorted first then older child which suits me better as I want to spend time with her.

Megbusset thanks for that previous read will look at that too!