Looking for tips on putting two young kids to bed alone when they share a room.

[LibbyanneA]

I have two boys, 2 years 3 months apart (youngest is 19 months). They’ve shared a room since the youngest was 10 months. My eldest is great at bedtime (stories/Toniebox), but my youngest has always struggled to fall asleep and can take up to an hour.

Until now, my partner and I have put them to sleep separately and then moved the youngest into his cot later. This worked, but my partner is now away Sunday–Friday, so I need a way to manage bedtime solo.

Any advice or routines that have worked for others in a similar situation?

Oldest first.

Read them a story together. Then goodnight cuddles/prayers/chat (whatever you do) with the oldest while the younger one listens to his Toniebox. Then the same cuddles etc with the youngest.
Does youngest keep the older one up or is he happy just wriggling about while he goes to sleep?

Does your youngest need a cot? If you could move to a floor bed or normal single bed could you do teeth, pjs, stories for both at the same time then put the tonie box on and lie with the younger one till they fall asleep?

Mine used to share a room. We did various things at different ages. Often it was a story for both and then I’d lie down with them both until they were asleep. If younger one is more difficult I’d be tempted to put the older one to bed first and then maybe try to settle younger one in my room and carry him through when both asleep.

Thanks for all the advice, the younger one is a pain and cries if I leave him so I do tend to fuss over him more which in turn makes the oldest jealous. I have thought about removing the sides of his cot so I can lie down with my youngest and still be in the room with them both. Think I might try this

I’d do everything together (bath, pyjamas, story), then put both to bed at the same time. Let the older one listen to a Toniebox quietly while I focus on settling the younger one. Keep interaction minimal—same phrase, calm presence, and don’t engage if they try to play. The key, in my experience, is consistency. It might be messy for a few nights, but cool games they usually adapt quicker than you expect.