How do I get them into a routine together, 2 under 2

[Flowerydems]

I'm really struggling to get my 2 DSs into a routine together.
My husband's starting a new job which will mean longer hours so no more help at dinner and bath time each night so I'm getting nervous about how I'm going to cope, he's really hands on which is great but hasn't helped me build up my energy levels for the both of them.
DS1 is 20 months, not walking but has a good routine with naps and bedtime. But DS2 6 months has inherited his brother's inability to nap properly during the day which means that 3pm hits and he's nearly flat out screaming for the next few hours.

On a typical day we'll get breakfast, watch a wee film or have a play and then we head out into town for a long walk for a couple of hours. Then we get home they have a nap and that's where I get a bit lost. After lunch I can't seem to keep them both occupied. DS1 still doesn't pay much attention to his little brother so it seems to make it harder to keep them both happy at the same time. DS2 likes his jumperoo but I feel bad plonking him in that while I play about with his brother.

I hope someone else might be able to give me some advice or even tips to keep them both happy, cause I'm failing miserably at the moment.

xx

Why not lunch first then nap? So mornings, go out early around 9 with the aim of youngest napping in pushchair? Use a snooze shade if need be. Then home for lunch at 12, nap at 1, then afternoon can potter or go out with tea at 5pm? Then bath at 6, bed for 6.30/7?

I never thought about doing that. DS1 usually takes a morning and an afternoon nap, but maybe he'd be better with one long nap after lunch. Just feel like they're really hard work just now and I'm struggling to get things done during the day cause if it's not one it the other. Probably sounds a bit silly but I think when DS2 was a newborn I got lulled into a false sense of security by the fact he napped pretty much all the time

I have two, a 2.4-year-old DS and 7-month-old DD - and my DH works away in the week. We lunch at 11.30am, nap at 1pm then mooch for the afternoon, but as they wake at 3pm, it's then only two hours until dinner, then an hour until bedtime, and it seems to fly by.

Things to pass the time include puzzles, baking, "helping" with dinner and housework, trips to the corner shop and tbh CBeebies, particularly after 6pm.

Bedtime - bath them together, then a story each in toddler's bedroom, he then goes down (theoretically, but there's a stairgate on his door) and then baby has last feed and down for the night.

I've also just started getting dressed/washed before breakfast which has somehow helped get us out of the door up to an hour earlier in the mornings, and seems less stressful.

Oh, and don't feel bad about the Jumperoo - it's a Godsend!

Yes from 20 months ish my ds dropped his morning one and dd who's now 19 months is dropping hers!