HELP! How do you do yr twins bedtime routine alone?

[benjalamummy]

My two are 16 months old and there are always two of us to do the bedtime routine - always me and either dh or our wonderful neighbour/stand-in grandma when dh is working 4 nights a week (yes I am very lucky I know). Recently she couldn't make it and I did it alone (which I did all the time when they were tiny) and it was a nightmare - dtd was sick everywhere and they both cried and cried for ages as neither of them had the attention they are used to.

I really want to be able to do this alone, also for when me and dh are both there but one of us could be cooking/cleaning up the carnage of the day/going out for a run (dream on)/whatever.

So my question is - how do you do bedtime with your twins if you have to put them to bed alone? Thanks

I've always done my DT's bedtime alone - I work ft so it is nice time with them.
At 16 months, it went -
Upstairs to bathroom
Play with toothbrushes while I ran bath.
Into bath together.
DT1 out and towel wrapped round)
DT2 out and wrapped.
DT 1 into nursery and onto changemat (we have a rabitts one where you can do up a strap to stop them wriggling off) but you could put a nappy on and then put them on their bed / in cot with a towel around them.
DT2 into nappy (avoids wees on floor.
DT 1 into Pjs and then onto cushions with book.
Dt2 nto Pjs

Milk and stories on cushions on floor (they each choose 1 or 2.
Both into bed / cot and sleep.

Gawd, sounds exhausting, but it is fine, honest!

Ta eggtimer, that sounds easy written down like that! To be honest that was more or less how it went with us - I think it was dtd being sick that threw everything. MAybe I should just try a few more times until they are used to it.

I just get on with it.

I didn't bother with bath every night when doing bedtime on my own. At that age they didn't get that dirty to warrant it. I used to get one changed then the other then give them their bottles whilst they were lying down. They quite liked the lying down with a bottle, no idea how they did it but never DH choking problems. I never had anyone else to help so just me on my own.

The idea of it is worse than the reality at the moment. I look forward to the odd night when DH is here to help and then it can be worse. Anyway, at 12 months we go upstairs with toys on landing. DT2 in bath, out, dry and into sleep clothes. He plays whilst DT1 is bathed and sleep prepped. DT2 sits at feet with book whilst DT2 has milk, then swap. Then stories then both into sleeping bags. DT1 settles himself. DT2 needs holding. There might be abit more milk before I can get downstairs to have wine before the evening round of cleaning and cooking. I'm sure there are better ways but its ok for now.

I often did and still do bedtimes alone, and agree that bath not always necessary - if you are on your own then stick to the bare minimum! My girls would have a 'lick and a tickle' with a flannel, clean teeth, pyjamas on & nappy done. Then all in to my bed for story time (essential) and kisses and cuddles and into bed. Pretty similar to now apart from toilet time instead of nappies, and they are 4! Saying that bath time now easier as just plonk them in and can potter around upstairs sorting washing etc and listen to them play. Its hard work I agree, but only gets easier!

It sounds like it was just the sicky episode that blew things out a bit. But on a normal day do it often enough and they will get used to it.

My DH works 4 nights a week too and things get done without too much trouble. The difficulty is my 2 year old!

What faeriefruitcake said.

I've got 21 month old twins.

Here's the bedtime routine.

1. Change nappy and pyjamas for DT1
2. Put her in her cot
3. Change nappy and pyjamas for DT2
4. Put her in her cot
5. Lights out

Then I do bedtime for DT3 and DT4, who are 4...

Same with my DTriplets to be honest.

Although I take all PJ's into the bathroom and get them out 1 at a time, dress them and then sit them down in the bathroom with a book. Repeat X3.

If I'm on my own then I use our en-suite bath so that I can read to DTriplets on the bed whilst DD1 and DD2 have a bath - that way I can watch them in the bath from the bed.

It works for us and isn't much of a big deal - the more you worry and work yourself up about it, the more you will get stressed out. They always say that kids know when you're stressed or nervous, so just relax and have fun with them!