Routine for toddler and 5 months old

[Praynhope]

I have got a 3 year old and a 5 months old....Wanted to know how other parents of similar age gap manage their naps, feed, bedtime... Till now don’t have a strict routine for the baby just going with the flow. DH will be going to work soon so have to handle both of them. Love to hear what others tips and tricks.

I have the same ages. Bedtime is the same time for both, 7pm. Iget them both ready, and then feed baby (BF) while I read toddler a story. Then I put DD1 in her cot, tell her to get cosy, and go and put DD2 in her cot. Quick song + cuddle and then down, and I leave even if she's crying. Then I go back to DD1, read one more short story in the cot, song, cuddle, kiss, night night. Takes 5min tops. Then if DD2 is still crying I go back in to settle her, but she rarely is. I'm usually in the bath with a g&t by 7.30pm.

Thank you for replying... At the moment DS has a comforter blanket and one of us have to be with him and wait until he goes to sleep and for DD I haven’t tried to let her self settle. I always bf her (in light) and rock her to sleep. Did you do anything to encourage self settling?

We did CC with both. With DD1 I did it at 10m in the traditional way - leave and come back every 2 4 6 8 min etc. Took one night. With DD2 I did similar but I stayed in the room, as she's younger. Popped her in the cot and then waited til she cried & left it 2 4 6 min before singing her lullaby and patting and shhing and then stopping again for 4 6 8 min etc. Took 3 nights.

Having a quick bedtime with kids who go to sleep by themselves has always been a top priority for us so we worked v hard to get both girls to settle independently.

To answer the rest of your question, DD1 doesn't nap anymore, and DD2 has all of her naps in the carrier so that makes life much easier.

Feeding - we prop DD2 up in her highchair while the rest of us eat, and when I need to feed DD2 I engage DD1 in some drawing, or an imaginary game or read her a story or get her to come cuddle up with us and we have a chat.

DS took dummy and his favourite blanket so didn’t need to try anything for him plus me or DH were always available to him...DD’s dummy is always popping out so its a pain.... I will try CC may be when she reach six months old. For now I will try to make their afternoon nap on the same time
and for bedtime try to encourage DS to go sleep without being one of us with him.
Now I am realising how easy it was to look after only one child! Still getting used to having two. DS will be starting nursery this September 5 days a week morning sessions so hopefully things will get better. Thanx for sharing your routine and ideas