Putting 2 to bed without your partner

[Lisa229]

I know loads of parents must do this but so far I have been luck enough that DH is always home for bath and bedtime. DD2 is now 12 wks old and DD1 is 3. DH is starting a job where sometimes he won't be back and I am dreading trying to put them both to sleep. DD2 has always been quie demanding and she is still very unsettled particularly at this time that it has always been easier for one of us to do one each.

So wanted some advice or your experiences of putting both to bed by 7.30pm. We normally give them a bath together at 6.15ish and then I give dd2 her milk in her darkened room and put to sleep and DH reads to DD1 in her room and puts her to bed.

A cab [grin} a CAM !!!!

I put the 3 DS's (7, 3 3/4 and 4 months) to bed on my own 5 days out of 7.

Diiner is usually around 6-6.30pm. Then if it's bath night (we bath/shower them every other day) The route goes something like this

Dinner
7pm run bath for DS2 and 3.
Bath them, get DS3 out and dressed, leaving DS2 to play for a few minutes (we have a downstairs bathroom so I can see - and hear - clearly what he's up to). DS1 usually "helps" by playing with them.

Then, if DS2 is still in bath (sometimes he decides he needs a poo mid bath so I get him out first). Go and warm DS3's milk up and get DS2 out of the bath and dried (he ets himself dressed).

Get shower ready for DS1 (usually about 7.30ish). He showers himself most times - we just make sure that he gets a proper "scrub" once a week LOL.

Feed DS3

DS1 then comes through and either I read DS1 and DS2 a story (while cuddling DS3), or DS1 will do some reading out loud.

8pm, take all 3 DS's upstairs. Get clothes out for next day.

Get DS1 and 2 into bed (they have a bunkbed), tuck in, kiss goodnight etc etc.

Go through to our room and put DS3 down

Go back and collect clothes to take downstairs ready for morning then sit on my ar*e and do nothing until 9.15 when I realise that DH will be home any time and the house looks like a bomb has hit it.......I sometimes misjudge this last bit and DH comes home while I'm still upstairs on the computer

"non" bath nights are pretty similar except there's no bath

Thanks for all your tips. A couple of times DH hasn't been home in time I have recruited my mum to help me - wimp I know!

I've been worried about it because DD2 cries loads before, during and after bathtime so it is a stressful time all round which is probably why I try and avoid doing it.

Another thing is I would prefer to put DD1 oto bed but she always wants DH to do it!

Dh puts the kids to bed on his own most nights. I help a bit. They are 2, 4 and 6.