Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

We have 3 kids, ages 5, 3, and almost 1. My husband works most evenings so 9 times or of 10, I'm flying solo for bedtime. It's been getting very difficult lately. I cherish that special bedtime routine time with my kids, but it's been so stressful lately that is hard to enjoy it . For anyone else in a similar situation, would you mind sharing your kids ages and what bedtime routine looks like for you or any tips you find helpful? TIA!

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Can you stagger the bedtimes a bit so you have alone time with each of them?

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I have 4 & 3. We keep them in the same room.
I get them dressed, brush teeth, plop in bed (hugs, kisses & tuck in), tell a "story" & they fall asleep.

Not sure what I will do when baby #3 comes... I figure I will feed baby during bedtime routine. Would like to keep all 3 in 1 room.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

When I am home with them by myself (6,5, and 1). I usually put the baby to bed while the boys watch a tv show. Then when baby goes down we do the boys routine, teeth, book, lights out.

Message edited 4/14/2015 1:44:05 PM.

Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

almost 5 and 2 here. 2 yr old goes to bed at 7:15. I do a short routine with her. 7:30 dd1 goes. she's usually already in pjs, then she brushes her teeth, we read 3 books and off to bed. If i have a 3rd, I would think the baby would go to bed first, then the other 2 at the same time.

My older dd plays in her room alone for the 15-20 mins I'm with dd2. If dh is home (he usually walks in around bedtime sometimes later), and they will read a book or play together for 10 mins. then I take over. and books and bedtime

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Not too often, but DH goes through spurts where he has to work late or go on estimates at night after 7. I have two boys ages 5 and 3.

We do everything in my room. I shower older DS first (he does most by himself while I am working on getting my 3 yr old to do anything... fight on going to the bathroom, getting undressed, etc
When my 5 yr old is done getting dressed and done with teeth he can sit on my bed with his Ipad. I give my 3 yr old a quick shower bc he's insane. LOL! They both do computers then they each get to pick a book. I read the two books, put my 3 yr old in bed (surprisingly he's easiest at bed time... a kiss good night, put on night lights and he's fast asleep).
My 5 yr old needs more time so I do him last, sit with him to do our goodnights, explain why people need to go to sleep each night, answer a million and 1 questions till I start to threaten him he won't get computer anymore unless he goes to bed.
Once he's finally settled I go and take a shower and have some me time till I pass out.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I have been doing bedtime without a DH since my DDs were 3 and 5. I always did their bedtime together after failing to do them separately. They share a room so it works. If i were you I would put the baby to bed first then the older 2 at the same time.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I agree that its easier to get the baby down first then worry about the older ones. I usually do bath and pjs for my 2 yo and 6 month old together. then give 6 mo a bottle while 2 yo reads some books, sometimes climbs on me while im in the glider, which is fine. then I put baby down.

have some playtime with 2 yo, give milk then put her down.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Message edited 4/15/2015 8:32:29 PM.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I have 4 year old twins and a 2.5 year old. They all share a room right now and bedtime is a flipping nightmare. On the weekends when DH is home, they go to bed at the same time no problem. When it's just me during the week all he!! Breaks loose. if it's bath night I do baths 1 at a time and while I am bathing one the other two hang out in the livingroom watching tv. Then I dress and brush teeth. Then I get the next kid. When they are all done with baths I do bathrooms one at a time. When they are all done we all go up to their rooms together. The twins are good about getting in their beds but my youngest will run around the room. The twins will just start screaming and singing really loudly and at this point I isually just shut out the lights and walk out of the room until the twins are quiet. My youngest usually starts crying for me by that point and I can get them to listen. I tell them they are either going to listen and lay down quietly or I am going downstairs. If they remain quiet I will read a book while the twins are in bed and my youngest is on my lap. If they don't stay quiet I walk out of the room and close the door. I repeat this until they are quiet. Often I have to bring my you test downstairs with me. He's going through some separation anxiety so I have to lay with him on the couch or in my bed until he falls asleep. Bedtime is by far most least favorite time of day.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I only have two and they are just under 2.5 yrs apart and my DH works very long hours and I am the one doing bedtime every weeknight alone. My kids are older now (5 and 7 and it gets easier in many ways and harder in others) but I have been doing this since they were babies. I just wanted to offer as I find it difficult with 2! With 4 you are amazing!

Message edited 4/14/2015 8:04:38 PM.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

My dd's are 1 and 3, I do bedtime every night. While I put the baby down my older daughter has dessert and watches the iPad. Then we spend some time together and I do her bedtime routine. Dh usually comes home as we are finishing up books and about to shut off the light.

Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

I do it on my own a few nights a week.

We do showers, they each pick a show, brush their teeth, we read a book and then they go to bed. I usually lay with DS 1 afterwards since DS 2 is more independent at bedtime.

Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Thanks for all the feedback. My two boys (5 and 3) share a room. I usually try to nurse my daughter and then put her to bed while the boys are watching a show. Then I get them and we do 4 books in their room, then brush teeth and pee, then they get into bed, I sing them each a song and snuggle for a few minutes with each one. Their whole routine from start to finish takes about an hour. But then there are nights (like the one that prompted me to write this post) where my daughter will have a hard time falling asleep and will be crying, or she will poop after I put her down when I'm in the middle of reading to the boys, or whatever. So then I'll get her and bring her into their room while I read but then I have to cut their snuggle time short so I can take care of her and put her back down. Then they get upset that I'm not staying to snuggle longer. It's crazy. I feel like I need a bigger space between the two bedtimes. But I don't know how to do that without starting at 4pm lol.

Message edited 4/15/2015 8:40:12 AM.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

maybe try and switch it so they brush and use the bathroom before you start books. Less getting up and down. That's what I do. She brushes, then we go into her room and read 3 books, then she lays down, we do the whole flipping, my hair is in the way, etc etc until we settle lol, then I rub her back for a few mins and leave. Both kids are done in 1 hour. I recently just started this b/c bedtime was taking forever. I feel like the longer I'm in there the worse it is.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Maybe consider doing some books before you put her to bed. So you all do books and then put her to bed. Then the boys can get snuggle time and maybe 1 book so it helps cut down the time a bit and they are all getting the attention.

Another idea is if she does interrupt - tell the boys you will be back in for a little extra cuddle or lullaby as soon as she is down if they are extra quiet and stay in bed.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

4 books??? Holy moly that's a lot!

I kiss, hug, tuck in and make up a story. Story takes less than 5 minutes. While process never more than 20 minutes. If they are not asleep, I tell them I need to brush my teeth & change to pjs.

I'm all about reading, but do it after dinner (less time for night routine).

Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Yes every night. I have almost 3 yr old twin boys and almost 5 dd. We do a bedtime routine dinner, bath, dress, 1 book each, hugs in bed, brush teeth and then everyone gets put in their bed.

Re: Anyone have to put multiple kids to bed at night without the help of your spouse/SO?

Almost 5 year old and almost 2 year old here
They brush their teeth at same time
2 yr old goes to bed first while 5 yr old watches tv/plays etc
5 yr old we read 1 - 2 books then bed

If 2 yr old wakes up or starts cryng before we finish i just tell 5 yr old we cant finish and to go to bed. He is fine with it.