how to handle bed time with a baby and a toddler?

Question

I have a 2 and half year old son and a 11 month old daughter. My mom lived with me for a while, now that she has left to go home. I am all alone with 2 kids. I think I can handle everything else, but not sure what to do at bed time. I had a good routine going for both of them, but to stick to it will require 2 persons. My 2 and half year old always want me to read to him for at least half an hour before bed. And my daughter gets rocked to sleep after a bath. What do i do to get both of them in bed at a sensible hour not having to leave one crying on the side? Who should i put down to sleep first?

My husband travels a lot for his job, so i can't really count on him and still be consistant with the kids.

Answer 1

Put the baby to bed first ( bath and rocking) and then read to the older one. Maybe let the older one watch a little t.v. while you are putting the little one to sleep.

Answer 2

I have two girls, now 3.5 and 23MO (and a husband that works long hours and travels), and the girls have been on a joint bedtime routine for over a year. I bathe them at the same time (or one right after the other, while the other watches, if if one is sick and shouldn't share the tub), I do all the things in the routine at the same time for both of them, and they go to bed at the same time, and they sleep in the same room even though we have an extra bedroom by their choice. I was worried they would keep each other up, but actually they like having the company and it makes it easier if one wakes up and needs something, because usually when one kid wants something in the middle of the night, the other does too anyway regardless if they are in the same room or not. Slowly incorporate your routines together. You can read to your son while rocking the baby, and shorten the time by five minutes every couple of days. Try putting the baby down before she goes fully asleep if she's not zonked by the end of reading time. The younger one makes up the sleep difference at nap time, and sometimes the older one stays up a bit in her room quietly if she's not sleepy yet. There will be a period of adjustment where they may not sleep right away and may fuss some. But if you keep it consistent, they will soon know it's bedtime and will go to bed and to sleep without much struggle.

Answer 3

I would just start doing a joint bedtime routine!
Have the toddler in his bed while you hold the baby in your lap and just read to both of them. Then after you tuck your son in you can rock the baby for a few minutes and put her in her crib.
My boys are the same ages and that is what we do so we have some good bonding and family time

Answer 4

Try putting you daughter to bed earlier then your son. The baby is still young enough to need the extra sleep and your son will be able to entertain himself playing with toys while you put the baby to bed. When the baby gets older you could try reading to them together before bed. Maybe alternating rooms each night. And it might not be a bad idea to give your son a job it helping putting his sister to sleep. My 3 year old son love tucking in his sister and bring her her baby doll. Kids like to be helpful at this age. Lets enjoy that while we can. :)

Answer 5

Put the youngest down to bed first while your son watches a cartoon/short show or plays with his toys (possibly try getting your little girl to fall asleep a little bit earlier than what you are used to so that you will have enough time to read to your son) . After she is asleep, you will have plenty of time to read to your little boy. It's all about balancing your time out wisely. I am sure you will do just fine :] Good luck!

Oh- FYI: Hot chocolate has Caffeine in it and will keep your little one up pretty late. Even though there is only a little bit of caffeine, your son's stomach is small enough that it would act as an energy booster and end up making your child hyperactive. - Good effort on help though Wylee :]

Answer 6

Can't you take the baby in the other childs room and rock her while you read? You know this will be better when she gets a little bigger. But for now, maybe put the baby down then read the bed time story,otherwise your gonna have to rock and read, that may not be easy, she will want to play!

Answer 7

after their baths rock the baby wile u read i have the same prob. i have a 3 year old n a 1 year old ..... if ur 2 in a half dont want to got to bed after u read them a story put the baby to bed take the 2 in a half and read more storys to them ......

Answer 8

Your baby is now 11 months old she should be falling asleep on her own now!!!! try putting her in her cot then leaving her and only go to her to reasurre her your there do not pick her up or talk to her. do this for a week and she will fall asleep in her cot every night. as for the 2.5 read to him down stairs away from his sister (noise) read together on a sofa for 30 mins then put him to bed with a hug and kiss. Do this also for a week and he will realise this is his new routine.

Answer 9

i think of she's sufficiently old for a huge lady mattress, although verify to post some kind of toddler gate that she will't climb over interior the doorway of her room. this is basically no longer secure for a 2 three hundred and sixty 5 days previous to be wandering around your place interior the direction of the evening! something might desire to ensue! and likewise verify her room is amazingly secure because she'll have get right of entry to to each little thing in there. i assume yet another selection could be to place a lock on the outdoors of her door and shop it locked at evening so she will't get out. this is advisable to maintain a demonstrate screen on however in case your room isn't interior reach, because of the fact the door would be close and locked.

Answer 10

That's so hard. I would try rocking the baby while reading to the older one, or putting the baby down on his/her stomach and rubbing his back while reading to the older one, or else put the baby down first and then the toddler, or vice versa. Eventually they will figure it out--it just seems like eternity until then. Good luck.