What was your bedtime routine when DC2 came along?

[Bumperlicious]

We aren't routiney types. With DD for the first two weeks we didn't know what time of day it was, which way was up, and eventually settled into a situation where DD slept in the living room with us in the evening, in a moses basket, until we went to bed, usually with a breast feed before bed. I don't really have a problem with the way we did it (apart from the first 2 weeks - DH and literally slept in shifts!).

Now DD is 3, and I wouldn't say she is a good or bad sleeper one way or another. We continued the flexibility, preferring later evenings with her (8ish or even later) and later mornings (usually 7.30). In the last few months we have become a bit stricter, with bedtime at about 7.30. I like that she is flexible, if we are out for a special occasion she can cope with late nights.

The crux of the matter is DC2 is due in the next few weeks. Where the hell do we start with bedtime? I don't want that hideous first few weeks. I'm not sure how to coordinate things with DD. I appreciate we may need more a routine this time, but I don't want a baby who is completely inflexible and can't cope outside of a routine.

Where do we start? What did you do with your newborn? Especially if you have a toddler.

Bump :)

DD1 was 2yrs 3 months when DD2 came along.

I used to bath them both separately initially, would put DD2 in bouncey chair in bathroom while DD2 was in the bath.

After the bath DD1 would watch television in our room while I would BF DD2.

We have the same age gap as Whoneedssleep. We kept DS1's bedtime routine the same, and integrated DS2 (now 9 mo) as appropriate.

We too had a 'day bed' in the living room, and moses basket by the bed for the first few months. Now he's in a cot in a curtained off annexe of DS1's room. Baby can have nappy-off time on the changing mat while you bath DD1, then go back downstairs with you once the older one's in bed. BF as you read bedtime stories/watch TV, then they'll both be quiet! If the older one's bath and bedtimes vary a bit, then the younger one will be brought up with the flexibility as well.

Good luck - hope it all works out for you!

Thanks for the tips both

DS1 just turned 2 when DS2 arrived. DH was often at work at bedtime so I bathed them together and struggled for a few weeks trying to read a bedtime story to DS1 whilst breastfeeding DS2. Then DS1 actually asked to read on his own in his bedroom. I now bathe them together and put DS2 down and then go into DS1's room to read the book he has been 'reading'. We may have a little play in his room too. Now X Factor is back on we sneak downstairs and have half hour in front of the TV.

So, in a nutshell, we are still flexible with DS1 (maybe even more so), but DS2 is in a routine but I find this quite important for my sanity and for one-to-one time with DS1.

Good luck!