Helping 3yo sleep independently

[YukoandHiro]

I have a 3yo and an 2 week old baby. The newborn is currently really easy with very little fussiness. Pre schooler is happy but boundary pushing and obviously had her world slightly turned upside down.
When DH goes back to work in a couple of weeks I'll regularly be doing bedtime solo as he's a shift worker.
3yo has always been rubbish at getting off to sleep. Even as a baby we struggled with naps. She now reliably does 11 hours a night (no naps) but still requires being sat with and sung to/holding hands to go to sleep. We've tried to gently withdraw a few times but it never works and takes hours so we've stuck with what works. I just don't know how I'm going to handle it with 2 to bath and get to bed... I'm breastfeeding so the baby will need me to feed her to sleep for the first year at least.
Any ideas on helping the 3yo to become more independent at bedtime to free me up a bit?

Bump?

Having a second child alters the routines doesn't it ? It takes a little adjustment , but it will soon pass, and you'll have a new bedtime routine established for 2 instead of 1.

I'd suggest having the new baby fit into the toddlers routine, rather than the other way around.

Bathe them together at the same time, and get the toddler to 'help' bathe the baby. Then into PJ's and maybe a story (whatever you usually do). The baby can either be in your arms, in a Moses basket beside you or in a sling (whatever works best for you). When toddler has milk/drink/snack (whatever) before bed, you feed baby at same time (even if you need to wake them to feed). That will mean both are clean, warm and comfortable and ready for sleep.

You will be juggling the different needs of 2 children for years, and you will find what works best for you all as a family, but a newborn only needs the basics i.e cuddle, feed, change, bathe, repeat so they are easier to adapt to existing routine.