Moms who have an infant and toddler...

(Another nighttime routine schedule).. Just wondering how you incorporate your infant's night time schedule/routine with your toddlers? I have a 2.5 year old and we have a nighttime routine, bath, pjs, reading and cuddles ( and I have to stay with her until she falls asleep, which is the subject of a whole other post!) .. anyway trying to figure out how to incorporate my infant into this routine as she is nearing 3 months old and I would like to have a routine set for her too.

Looking for suggestions on how to give both kiddos a routine without spending hours each night on the process?

ETA: DH Is not always home from work by bedtime so sometimes I have to tackle both myself.

Message edited 7/14/2014 12:02:37 AM.

Re: Moms who have an infant and toddler...

i have a 4 month old & a 3 1/2 year old. sometimes my husband isnt home either to help with bedtime so depending on the mood of the baby, if he is cranky i will put him to bed & start that process at 730 (bath, book, bottle, bed) my oldest will help me with the bath & book... then i will turn on a show for him while i give the baby his bottle & put him in bed. once thats done, its my older ones turn. on a good night i will have both of them in bed by 830 if i start at 730

if the baby is chill, i will wait till 8, put my older one to bed & just hold the baby in my arms while we brush teeth, wash up, read books. then i will put baby to bed... like i said on a good night this will take me an hour

hope that helps!!

Moms who have an infant and toddler...

DS is 2.5 and DD 6 mths. I stagger their bedtimes - DD goes to bed between 7-730 and DS around 830-9. We do bath every other night, DD first then DS starting around 630. Lately we do bath every night and alternate nights between DD and DS. Around 7 DD gets her bottle, we all go into my room, I feed her and I let DS watch a show. She goes to bed then we go into DS room and read books...I also need to lay down with DS to get him to sleep, need to break this habit its the most time consuming part!!! I'm hoping it will be easier when I can give them a bath together.

Re: Moms who have an infant and toddler...

dd just shy of 3 when dd2 was born. Even now this is our routine. dd1 starts at 7. changes into pj's and I rock her. theres really not much involved right now for her. I usually do baths early around 5. My kids are to tired and the bath makes them hyper if I do them late.

dd1 hangs out dh. They read books or cook dinner. If he's not home which seems to be more often she will either play in her room or come and sit on the floor of her sisters room.

DD1 then brushes teeth, potty, pj's and we read 3 books and lay down. I stay and rub her belly. Usually she's out cold in a few minutes. If it's a few minutes longer then I leave her awake and she goes to bed on her own.

dd2 doesn't really need to be rocked anymore so as soon as she fusses in my arms in she goes and falls aslpee on her own