Is there a way to make bedtimes a bit calmer?

[Rainyspringflowers]

I thought I had them down to a fine art but lately it’s a nightmare. I have DS (3) and DD (9 months.) DD is obsessively climbing all over me as I’m trying to read to DS and crying and whimpering. I’ve tried bringing toys up but she just wants to climb (it’s driving me a bit bananas.) How do other people manage?

Do you have a partner?
Could you divide the kids between you for this time?
Not quite the same but I had a basket of toys DD could only have access to during nappy changes (to keep her interest) and it worked pretty well. Is there something you could offer DD to try and distract her for a few minutes? Maybe something physical like a jumperoo or door bouncer? That's only available while you read to DS...

Put the baby to bed first.

I do have a partner @Beamur but he generally isn’t back until gone 8. I’ve tried to bring up some toys but she just keeps climbing on me.

I can’t really put her to bed first. DS just follows me around and would disturb her and I can’t leave him unaccompanied for that long, it isn’t fair on him apart from anything else.

I've just fed my 10m old to sleep in the living room while 3yo watches TV then popped baby down and then did bedtime with DS. Could that work?

Baby needs to be tired enough I don't let mine nap past 4pm for a 7pm bed.

No neither do I - she woke at 4pm today and I’m still waiting for her to go to sleep! We have a bit of FOMO I think! To be fair to her once she’s asleep she’s really good, it’s just actually getting there can take a looooong time.

I might try a baby bouncer tomorrow. Just feel so guilty DS can’t have his stories because she’s all over the place!

Could you put baby in a carrier or a sling if you have one?

Just thinking they can't crawl around if they're in that and the contact might help calm them.

You could also follow good sleep hygiene so low lights, no screen time a couple of hours before bed.

We have a yoto and they have sleepy radio which is basically calm music setting the tone

Will she cilmb on something else? Maybe she has a bit of energy to burn before sleeping. My boys were very fidgetty in the evening at that age, they wouldn't sit for a story as they just wanted to pull upon things. Is there something she can climb on safely in the room while you read to DS?

I do this…..

Bathtime together, very splashy to burn off energy.

Stories in the preschoolers’s room with both of them. The baby just crawls around the room, but it gets the preschooler into sleepy mode.

Preschooler into bed with something soporific in CBeebies Radio

Baby stories and into bed in her room (thankfully this is quick)

Back into preschool, for a ‘grown up’ story.

It works most of the time….

That’s what I used to do @Shelinaa and it worked well until DD decided I am a human climbing frame!

I generally fed DD2 whilst doing stories with DD1 at that age. It does mean the big one can't sit on your knee, though. She used to cuddle into my side instead.

When mine were at this stage - 9m went to bed first while 3 year old stayed downstairs watching tv (if my partner was out).

Then I hd time to read with older child on their own.

Following. DH can put 10 month old DC2 down awake but DC2 absolutely will not tolerate this with me! When I’m on my own I tend to feed DC2 to sleep on my bed with just turned 4yo DC1 on mattress on the floor next to us. 4 yo then transferred into own bed/bedroom asleep or awake. Baby then transferred into cot (still in our room ) x 1 billion until settles. I then collapse into bed. I hate solo bedtimes!

It’s a nightmare, @VivaVivaa (how are you guys? We were on the July threads together!)