What sleep routine for more than one child?

[MadamePlatypus]

Before having DD (4 weeks) I think I fondly imagined that I would be able to put her to bed before having some quality time with DS (3) before his bed time, followed by quality time with DH! What planet was I living on? At the moment DS is pretty good and will go to bed by himself after a few stories. Funnily enough, the same approach is not yet working with DD...

Now, with 3 years between them, at some point in the future I imagine that DS will be going to bed later than DD. I appreciate that I might need to take the long view and that it is more realistic to expect this kind of schedule when they are 7 and 4 than 3 and 4 weeks, but I am interested to know how other people have managed toddler/baby bed times.

When they're tiny, it's not worth putting babies to bed before you go to bed, as their biggest sleep tends to be the first one, and it's nice if you get that time to sleep yourself.

And I don't really bother with sleep schedules, anyway, before kids are 6 months and down to two daytime naps.

My two are three years apart, at 2 and 5, and they go to bed at about the same time, still, because DS2 naps in the afternoon. I expect he'll be going to bed before DS1 at some point, but it'll probably be half an hour's difference by then. The difference in sleep needs between a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old isn't that big.

I have a 12 week old and 2 1/2 year old, they go to bed at the same time, which makes bath time a bit manic - but neither of them can make it any later. When I'm on my own, DS2 gets fed in front of CBeebies , then goes to bed, and DS1 then has nice story time on his own with Mummy. Then when DH comes home we have a quiet evening on our own. DH does the later feed with DS2 after I've expressed it, so he does get to see DS2

I don't find the same as NQC - DS2 has been going to bed by 7 since we came back from hospital, and now sleeps all evening before we give him a feed as we go to bed (usually around 10.30), then he sleeps to at least 6 the next morning (although this is a new phenomenon!). I think it's worth getting the evening sleep in place so you can have time with DH.

If your DS goes to bed at say 8 (you didn't say what time), and DD at 7, then I don't see why your plan won't work in a few weeks or months time. It's just the first couple/3/4 months that are so unpredictable with the tiny baby.

Sorry, that was a bit long...

Good luck with it!

DS has stories for about 20 minutes from 7.15 ish. However, DD isn't really very predictable with bed times. She will often fall asleep while I am reading DS stories but for a cat nap rather than to go to sleep for the night. Being able to predict what time she will settle for the night seems quite a long way away.

I think I being a bit glass half empty about things tbh. I will listen to DS snoring gently while I am feeding her in the night and rather than thinking how great it is that at least one child is asleep I am just jealous of him!