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HELP! Bed time routine...

5 replies

RelaxingPleazzze · 25/08/2024 21:19

Hello fellow parents, I need help:
DH and I take turns with the night time routine of our eldest DC (4yo). We have a 2mo baby too.
I'm AWFUL at creating a relaxed time during bed time routine (really, readers, AWFUL): it's painstakingly obvious that I stress my beautiful and lovely 4yo DC. The issue is that I genuinely want to spend this time with DC1, and look forward to it... But then, when the time comes, I become a Mrs. Rottenmeier obssessed with timeliness and end up creating a stressful situation...
Have you got any tips to stop being obnoxious during bed time? Those of you who have a relaxed routine, how do you do it?
Please help: I don't recognise myself and don't want to be like that!

OP posts:
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hentheeighth · 25/08/2024 21:32

Hey OP, what makes you think you are making it stressful? Comparing with dad? Sometimes kids are just little monsters especially when tired and know how to push our buttons!

For us, with DD almost 4, bedtime routine is something like:

Run bath at set time, get her in when it's ready, let her play for 15 mins or so. Getting her out can be a challenge so often bath is followed by a 'who can get their pyjamas on first!!' race... not very calming but gets the job done!

Then we dim lights, let DD choose two stories which obviously vary in time depending on which ones she chooses... this is the bit where usually(!) she calms down!

Then into bed, cuddles, kisses and goodnight. It's not always the same exact time she's into bed, sometimes tantrums happen if she's overtired, sometimes she picks looong stories and ends up later to bed. But on average, roughly the same routine each night and she gets enough sleep.

I wonder if it would help to identify what exact part you/DD are finding stressful and tackling that? I wonder if she/you are quite rightly also still adjusting to new baby?

It's tough OP, they like to test us but I like to remind myself it's only for a few short years....!

RelaxingPleazzze · 25/08/2024 22:27

Hi @hentheeighth , thanks for your reply! You're right: I compare myself to my DH. He has that wonderful "dad energy" (I don't know how to describe it), cheerful and gets things going... wheras I feel so clumsy, tired, without imagination or patience.
Yes we are very much adapting to being a family of 4... But that's why I miss my time alone with dc1 and why I want it to be quality time...
For the record, DH says I'm exagerating, that it's not that bad, and I just lack practice (for months, in the last weeks of pregnancy and first weeks of baby, he did the routine). Maybe he's right... But I have this ideal of quiet time for bonding before bed, and the one making it difficult is me!
I need to find a way of not loosing my patience when things take time: the more tense I am, the more buttons get pushed, iykwim 😅

OP posts:
hentheeighth · 26/08/2024 10:13

@RelaxingPleazzze I find the same, but usually it's because they're sleeping better, carry less mental load and put less pressure on themselves! Your baby's so little, I'd just remove the pressure to be perfect and calm. And if it works better for your DH to do the routine for now, maybe that's the easiest thing.

If they're clothed and fed you're doing great!!

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ChilledMama85 · 26/08/2024 13:54

I'd start bed time routine earlier so even if they get out of bed to get their fav toy in or ask for extra snack etc etc. you are not 'behind'

My 6 mths old get more cranky as time
progress which means my time with older child is limited unless I start early.

Are there any particular situations that trigger the 'stress'? Maybe visualise beforehand & decide the calm way in which you react if X behaviour / situation happens?

Yourethebeerthief · 26/08/2024 17:07

I love bedtime. Not only because it means he's finally in bed and I can get time to myself Grin but also because I just love that cosy time of the day to bond.

We have dinner at 4:30 and then we dim the lights and get into pyjamas at 5. He gets to have some quiet time playing with his toys while we tidy the kitchen/wash up after dinner. Then he gets teeth brushed and chooses some stories to read together in his bedroom. We have a big rocking chair we both sit on and read together. Maybe 2 or 3 story books. Then he gets into bed and falls asleep listening to a calm story on his Yoto player.

You don't need to overcomplicate it OP. Somewhere comfortable and cosy to sit together, dim lighting, maybe some gentle music if you like, a cosy blanket to cuddle under together while you're reading stories. Just enjoy the cosiness and cuddles

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