how long does it take you?

[charlmills]

How long does it take to put your toddler to bed?

Bloody ages . Am knackered.

Ds is 4. Do you mean from taking them upstairs or the whole shebang of bath, pj's, drink etc?

Once he's in his pj's and ready it takes 5 mins.

I'm guessing your DC is younger? Actually is a 4yr old even classed as a toddler? If not then ignore the above

Upstairs for bath at 6.15-6.20pm to allow 20 mins playing with DH when he gets in at 6pm.

Bath until about 6.40pm

Dry and stories until about (max) 7.15pm.

Then he self settles

So about an hour. We can condense it if required, but usually enjoy the snuggles and story books!

Why, how long does it take you charlmills?

DD is 20 months. Tea about 6 with the family. In The Night Garden for a few mins at 6:30, then bath til about 7, then drying time, pjs, bottle until 7:30 ish, then bed (we rock her on the rocking chair for a few mins then let her settle herself if still awake). Sometimes she's asleep by 7:30, sometimes it's after 8 . Trying to condense it but also I enjoy the time with her as I work til 5 most days.

About an hour in all from start to finish including bath and book

DD1 is 3, DD2 is 15mo.

6.30 bath, 6.40 out, into jamas, story, 6.50 in bed.

6.51

She is 2.8 yrs and from going up to bed it can take an hr some nights, less if she is really tired. She just manages to keep u up there and will seriously kick off if you go before she's about to drop off (and I hate her going to bed when we are all upset). She will get herself to sleep but I'm not sure if her afternoon nap is affecting this also, whether she still needs it or not (although she is soooo tired if she doesn't get it).... so confused.

My dd1 3 went through this stage of needing a nap otherwise she was grumpy but then went to bed later as a result. It took about two months for her not to need the nap anymore. If she did fall asleep (or got too grumpy she was taken for a nap ) I would wake her up after 20 ish minutes so it was just enough to get her to bedtime. I also moved bedtimes bit earlier when she hadn't napped if things got too much

Nevercan I think that is definately where we are heading. I know I let her sleep too long for her naps but I just can't seem to bring myself to shorten it as I love the time alone so much in the middle of the day. I have a 11 month old too and he is waking in the night still so I am bloody knackered all the time. I suppose its weighing up whether its more precious to have an evening or a bit if time in the day...!

On a typical day DS (14 months) has tea at 6pm then in the night garden for a bit, he's in the bath for 7ish (depending on when he last slept), then drying time, PJs and a story then BF and into bed where I leave him awake and 90% of the time he gets himself to sleep at about 8pm.

That sounds very straightforward but it's taken us a long time to get there!

He then wakes a couple of times a night for his dummy and gets up at 4.30... Still working on that!

If DH isn't home, I am doing all 3 by myself and everyone has a bath, it can take up to 1.5 hours. An currently trying to work in some "economies of scale" with DD1 (20 mths) and DD2 (3.8 years). If they share a bath, agree on the same stories (rare) and no-one melts down then 30-40 mins is achievable.

puma8 - wow that's amazing all 3 in 30-40 mins (if all goes to plan). I love those days when it all goes to plan, u feel like super woman especially when u do it on ur own.

nomoreminibreaks - sounds all good accept for 4.30 waking that's harsh. My little ds sometimes wakes at 5/5.30 and I'm a wreck!

DS is 3. Bath at 7.30, teeth, pyjamas, 2 books and asleep by 8pm or ten past if DH gets home somewhere in the middle. All done with DD (3months) attached to my breast or under my arm or propped up to watch :) He usually sleeps til 8am.

As a small baby he was a terrible sleeper but he is now a champion sleeper!

Occasionally DS is so tired and such a PITA that the early to bed routine takes as long as a change into pyjamas and closing the curtains takes!

nomore how did you get to that schedule? It's what I would like but we have about 2 hours between in the night garden and sleep!!!!!!!!!

Hazchem I would love to take credit but I'm useless at having a strict routine and what we've ended up with is a result of tweaking things very gradually and taking DS' lead.

It's tricky but we start bedtime bearing in mind his last nap. I try to get him to wake up no later than 3 hours before I want him asleep. I also used to feed him to sleep but tried to put him in his cot more and more awake and now he can be completely awake and get himself to sleep.

Now we try to start the bedtime routine earlier as its no fun when he's very tired and it means we can have a story.

I'm sorry if that's no help. I wish I could share a secret with you but it has taken a long time!

nomore Sometimes knowing that there is no magic answer is enough!
I think your right about the last nap thing. I might try to get some more rhythm into his day and hopefully that could help with the nights