Bedtime routine with a 2 year old and a newborn

[Sianmumbear]

Looking for some helpful advice!
My husband is a shift worker and is usually out for bedtime and I'm struggling to find something that works now we have a 2 year old and a newborn in the mix.

My 2yo daughter is really good at bedtime, never makes a fuss, she has a bath, straight into pjs for milk and cuddles on my lap in the chair in her bedroom while I read books for 15 mins. She goes off to sleep fine on her own after that.

The problem I now have is that my newborn is beginning to scream as soon as he's put down which is causing issues! He doesn't like the sling.

I fed them both together, if I'm really lucky He falls deep enough asleep for me to put him down while I do the routine with 2yo. But normally he comes in the bathroom with us but when it comes to the reading and cuddles with my daughter I end up having to put him in his crib or cot in another room with music/lights etc but inevitably it ends up with him screaming. If he screams whilst in her bedroom, the whole thing goes to pot!

I don't have enough hands to hold them both and my daughter will not accept not sitting on my lap for cuddles books and milk.......

What do I do??!!!! Help!

Can you get a baby rocking chair that’s in your 2 year olds room?

I havent actually tried a rocker, I've got a standard bouncer chair and the minute his bum touches it he cries. Could try one..

Will your daughter let you do cuddles, milk and story on your bed? There's exactly two years between mine. My youngest is now 8 months and after bath we all go to sit and cuddle on my bed. Oldest has a story (or an episode of something on telly) while I feel the youngest. Youngest gets put down, then I move with my eldest to his room where we carry on his routine. I know you're juggling two different timetables at the moment, but could you do all of her routine on your bed and then take her to her room to put her down in her cot or bed?

Here’s what I do with my 22 month and 2 month old: put toddler in bath, baby has no-nappy time on changing mat on floor while I wash toddler. Baby in bath on bath seat and washed quickly while toddler plays with bath toys- baby out and dressed.
Baby on changing mat (with dummy if needed) while I get toddler out and dress her. Toddler chooses story and sits next to me while I read it and feed the baby. Then I put toddler in her cot, kiss her goodnight and carry the baby to our room, offer a bit more milk and put her in her sleeping bag and cot in our room.
It was a bit stressful the first week but now they’re both used to it and wait quite contentedly for each other.