Back to school bedtime routine ?

[Hellobell]

Heyyyy parents,

so before the summer holidays our bedtime routine was miserable for me as I have 2 kids age 3 and 5 and in separate rooms, I do stay with both of them while they fall asleep, sometimes 10mins sometimes 30mins.

they have a bath, straight onto my bed so we read stories this can last 30/40mins as they choose a few then my son goes to his dad while I put my daughter to bed 10/30mins then I tell my son to get into his bed and do the same another 10/30mins. It can end up a 2 hours at that point I’m tired and just go bed 😂

the kids keep asking for me to take them to bed and not there dad and bedtime is probable his weakest point as he’s exhausted (so am I but I still do it with patience and love) anyone has any tips or share how you do it ?

I think the only option is to split the task with my partner and we both rotate with the kids each night 🫤 maybe even separate story time so me with one child stories and bed and then partner with the other child.

Put them in the same room then alternate doing bedtime between you and your husband so you're both getting a night off. Mine are 2 and 5 in the same room and I stay while they fall asleep, they're usually both asleep in 20 mins

Yes I have thought of doing this aswell, i think i might actually try it tomorrow night, daughters bed is very light to move so might not be that difficult. Thank you ! A night of sounds great 😊

This may be not relevant but are they getting enough fresh air and a lot of exercise? Mine are so much easier at bedtime when they have been active, even if just the playground after school.
Mine used to need me to fall asleep but I have slowly moved away from that this past year & it’s bliss now to say goodnight and leave them to it. I did a course by Nurtured First called bedtime battles I think which was great. We use the connection bridge ideas here - https://nurturedfirst.com/toddler/bedtime-separation-struggles/
They sound like nothing but they have really worked. Also consider reward charts, doing special fun things at the weekend because they have been grown up etc. A Yoto player/ Tonie player has really helped too as they fall asleep listening to stories I have recorded myself reading. Good luck!!

Definitely put them in the same room! Bed time stories should be done in their room too, so there is no transition from one room to the next. Calming environment the whole time, if you have a light projector or calming night light that would help. My DS has the astronaut one that puts stars on the ceiling and that signals its bedtime in our house.

I don't think this has been mentioned yet, but I'd have a cap on the number of stories and make bedtime as consistent as possible. Only have books around of a length that you're happy reading at bedtime and perhaps they choose one each?

I’d cut out the getting into your bed and go straight to their rooms. You each take one. Don’t rotate. That plays into the only mummy does it right and daddy isn’t good enough mentality. It also means they never get used to the routine. Dads can be as fantastic at bedtime as mums can be.

Or you stagger bath and bedtime. Dh always did baths, so youngest went first and he got him out and dressed for bed, then I’d take over for bedtime. Dh would then to bath for oldest and get her dressed and ready for bed and start bedtime. I’d come in to say good night to her after I was done with youngest. This way, they get both of you.

Stories in the bath!

Wow thank you all so much for all these tips, some I didn’t even think of, I’m sure they will help us with our routine, we have a Yoto and love it but they do prefer physical books (probable because they know I’ll be around 😂) !

Yes we actually use to do this, but since our 5yr old started to learn to read I use this time to practice his sounds and go through his reading phases/book it seems to calm him down and he cooperates so much better 😊

Oh yes I love her instragram page, we bought the anger course and we do love it so I’ll be checking out the sleep one (the link you provided was also very helpful so thank you).

we have a Yoto and they do love it, also have a blank with it so maybe I should get recording myself 😂.

thanks for all the tips !

I think when they are this young it definitely makes your life easier as long as they are both good sleepers! You can always move them out to their own rooms again when they are old enough to put themselves to bed.
I also limit the number of books so they choose one each or one quite long one then they listen to a story on their yoto while they fall asleep.
hope it works well for you all!