3 Yr old and 18mth old only sleep when being cuddled!

[Redbluegold]

I'm a teacher and on summer hols in 3days. I want to crack bedtime before the new term starts.

Neither are great sleepers, both always need something to go sleep. Thdy share a room. Current routine is bath, teeth, story with a bottle, then they both mess about until dh takes youngest into our bed and I cuddleoldest on her bed. Then they fall asleep really fast.

Ideal would be milk downstairs, teeth, bed time story, kiss goodnight and leave.

PLEASE HELP!

I have 3 kids and all have been a nightmare
We actually had nhs help for our eldest... Didn't work.
The only thing that works is when you are ready is to change it all at once. No half hearted attempts.
No giving in.
So blooming tough but we got to desperation point and it worked.
Eldest now 18 and she doesn't remember.. She was 5 when we went " cold turkey"

Put them in together cuddled up. Off you go downstairs.

No advice but we’re the same with our 20 month and 4 year old. 6 year old now reads in bed and falls asleep without us in the room. So maybe it just takes time. But following for tips anyway!

Similar with my DS. I used to BF him to sleep and then when stopped (14 months) cuddled/rocked him on a chair to sleep. I'm ashamed to say we did this until just before his 3rd birthday when we moved him into a single bed from cot. It was the bane of my life. I'd dread bedtimes and DH and I would argue about whose turn it was to rock him (often took about 45 mins).
We actually just went cold turkey as such when moved him into a single bed. Had a few weeks of cuddling him to sleep in the bed, then sitting end of bed, then sitting on a chair. I now sit for about 10 mins outside his door and it's amazing. I'm pregnant with number 2 and won't be doing the same. It robbed me of so many evening hours.

If they fall asleep really quickly when you’re cuddling them is it a big issue? Or do you need to keep holding them otherwise they wake up?

@Kanaloa

If they fall asleep really quickly when you’re cuddling them is it a big issue? Or do you need to keep holding them otherwise they wake up?

Ah, well, sometimes they don't! And the youngest is so used to having someone to cuddle she won't move into her own bed so DH and I have not shared a bed for a long time as she's always in with him then 3 Yr old wakes in the night and gets in with me. It's got to end!

When you all say cold turkey,.please describe exactly what you mean. Do I kiss them goodnight and walk our the room, then hold the door shut. It's so upsetting seeing their little faces, so betrayed and hurt

In the same boat OP and place marking

Need to take the power back.

A way to sidestep the issue would be two sidecar cots (3 sided, normal sized cot or cotbed), one either side of your bed and a child in each.

You and DH get the space in your bed. Children get their own matress to sleep on, but still be cuddled when needed.

This is the no distress option.