Toddler bored with In The Night Garden: bedtime alternative?

[garliclover]

Well, that's it in a nutshell, really. For months and months we relied on it as the start of the bedtime routine, but now he can't be bothered. Are there any alternatives someone can recommend? Something that lasts about 20 mins (giving me time to get bedtime things and bath ready) and is suitable for a DS just turned 2? He doesn't watch much tv for the rest of the day, but used to really enjoy ITNG ...

Was going to suggest a story till I realised it was so you could get bits together and organised for bath etc. My dd (19 months) enjoys Peppa pig, Mickey Mouse clubhouse and also Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Not a telly addict honest

Have found recently she isn't as interested in the cartoons though and prefers to just play with her happyland house with her sisters. Easier though as I've also 2 dds (6 yrs) who can entertain her while I do the pre bed runaround.

Maybe a silly question but could he not play in bathroom or his cot (if safer) with some toys whilst you pour bath etc

So much easier when they used to sit in a bouncy chair wherever you left them

Same as mum23 - peppa pig is a fave for this age group, ben and holly's little kingdom is by the same people and good as well. Mickey mouse they enjoy but if you are nearby mickey's voice starts to grate v quickly! If you could get your hands on an old teletubbies DVD that might fit the bill - very similar to ITNG (think it was the same people) and produces the same hypnotised effect in toddlers!!!

Do you have sky? Babytv is marvellous.

Oh DD1 also loved special agent oso at this age.
A lot of these progs are on sky though.
TB anything on cbeebies will fit the bill if they like it. Mr tumble is always popular for eg - something special / gigglebiz / justin's house

Have you heard of the baby einstein DVD's. My DS loves them and it will hold his attention from start to finish. They do a large range depending on age, my DS is just coming up for 2 and loves Baby Mc Donald and numbers nursery, (he doesnt seem to get bored watching it every evening)i feel they are also quite educational so i dont feel guilty about him watching them. They sell them on Amazon. Def worth a watch.

my dc loved 64 zoo lane - and even now (ds1 is 7), it's something i'll pop on if i want to calm things down (have got a few left recorded but i think it is on cbeebies plus i also have a dvd which they still like to take away with us if we go away!).

Abney and Teal is a really nice quiet sort of programme, is short though so you might need two episodes. DS absolutely loves it.

I second 64 Zoo Lane too.

Little Einsteins (mine love it).

abney and teal is nice isnt it

DD1 used to to "little eye skies" as well

These suggestions are great -- thank you! I'll probably try Peppa Pig as he's never seen it before and the novelty might be appealing. Unfortunately we don't have sky, but there's always amazon for the other progs (we'll probably use those during the day when I need him to stay in one place for 10 mins)...

Pingu is genius.

Let him play.

i second baby einstein, my 2 year old is mesmerised by it even after he's seen it a gazillion times. he likes baby noah and baby beethoven, the music is very relaxing.

There's a DVD of the hungry caterpillar which is great. It has 3 or 4 other short stories by the same author.

Postman pat!! Bob the builder, chuggington.

Abney and teal was our progression from night garden. Dd 2.9 absolutely adores it. Lovely and gentle and much shorter than night garden!

DS2 is 2.4 and loves Little Einsteins, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Pepper Pig. He doesn't like ITNG either which is fine by me as some of those episodes are soooo noisy and irritating

The dvd of Where the Wild Things Are, it has a couple of other films on it, including In the Night Kitchen (absolutely nothing like ITNG) and some other lovely animations set to Carol King songs. We have found this very calming for DS.

something special was very popular with my three when they were that age, my 11 year old DD still secretly watches it when she thinks noone is looking !