Tips for toddler and newborn bedtime

[kellybean18]

I’m a big lover of routine and my toddler has a very structured bedtime (bath, milk, story, Gro Clock). We have had some hiccups lately which we have just managed to get over and she’s usually asleep by 7:30.

New baby is due next week. I just wondered does anyone have any tips for getting them both ready for bed? I worry about things like the newborn crying and waking my toddler or my toddler resenting the baby being in our room.

Thanks

Will you be alone? Mine are 2.3 years apart and our strategy was to keep as much as possible normal with DS routine. So DH did his bedtime mostly as I was dealing with newborn and/or doing housework. I’m a sahm and spent all day with them so more than happy to hand over at bedtime. Occasionally if baby was sleeping then I’d do it, but our routine was 10/15 min max. We didn’t bath every night so he didn’t expect it, so it was literally pjs on, milk and read 2 books and then teeth and then bed.

If DH wasn’t home I tried to time it so baby was napping or I’d just hold her and feed while I was reading books. I never attempted bath by myself until she was a few months old.

DS slept with his door closed so baby rarely woke him up after the first week. He also didn’t seem remotely bothered about her being in our room

@Caterina99 that’s very reassuring thank you! DC1 is the same age as yours!

I think with lockdown I’m quite anxious as it’s really changed her behaviour and we are only just back to anything resembling how she was before.

Hi OP, my two are 3 years 2 months apart. For the first few weeks at least don't even think about it. Newborn will be downstairs with you etc. If you're doing bedtime by yourself, just stick to your routine with toddler and have the baby with you in a bouncer or sling! They really do just slot in with whatever you're doing.
Once my youngest got a bit older (2-3 months) we just started doing their bath together but still on the eldest's schedule. Gradually her bedtime got earlier and earlier and all of a sudden you find yourself with two kids in bed and your evening back!
When by myself I always say eldest in front of CBeebies whilst I put the baby to bed first, then took her up. But she was old enough to be trusted to sit alone for a couple of minutes then!

Oh and not once did my eldest ever wake with newborn crying, and baby had silent reflux and was fairly colicky so I wouldn't stress. Toddlers are deep sleepers!

I had a baby in feb and at first I left the baby downstairs with DH while I did bedtime for 3 year old DD. Once he went back to work I just had the baby upstairs with us and he fitted into the routine where I bathed them together, dressed them both and fed the baby while I read DD her bedtime story. I then would take the baby downstairs with me until he was a bit older and I was comfortable him going to bed in his own room. I find it easier with DH there to dress the other child and read the story while I feed.
Bedtime has always been mine and DDs time together so I wondered how she’d react but she was keen to include her brother and as we now have all day together bedtime is less important

Also my baby will at times wake DD in the morning but not in the evening or at night