https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 19:17:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906323 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:22:13 +0000 Becky 2906323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: We started involving DD2 in DD1s bedtime routine at probably 5-6 months. So she would lay on the bed or be on my lap or in a bouncy seat while DD1 was in her toddler bed and we would read (2 books) that way. I’m sure there was crying and my guess is we probably just ignored it and tried to get through the stories. As she got older though (like by 9 months) she was content. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906318 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:07:21 +0000 cake2017 2906318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pajamas: @skinnycow: I’m finding that putting my toddler down first works best. My struggle is the baby and timing it so she’s not crying. I’m starting to think she will just fuss though no matter the time. I don’t know! I’m going to see how tonight goes after the third nap this afternoon. Ideally I would like both kids to bed before 730pm and do my regular feedings with her since she’s so young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906300 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 12:23:14 +0000 Mrs. Pajamas 2906300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: I did a lot of solo bedtime when my DD2 was a baby and she would not nurse with DD1 in the room. I ended up putting DD1 to bed first, then the baby. That worked way better, especially because you can put the baby down on the floor/bouncy chair/whatever to attend to the toddler but it's harder to tell the toddler to sit still! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906278 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:45:58 +0000 graceandjoy 2906278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My memory is fussy, but DD1 was 2 when DD2 was born so they def had that same age gap. I don't think DD2 was too distracted nursing though, so I always nursed DD2 in DD1's room putting DD1 to sleep first. We use white noise always so that helped them not be so distracted. At that age (2) I just couldn't really trust DD1 to be out of my sight for a while even if I give her the iPad/phone... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906274 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:51:09 +0000 skinnycow 2906274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right there with ya. I usually do bedtime with the baby and my husband handles the three year old but when he's out of town it's chaos.</p> <p>The only thing I've found that remotely works is sitting my oldest in front of the tv (not ideal) while I put the baby down. I also can't nurse in front of my oldest because the baby pops off every five seconds to look at her sister. Most of the time I just end up doing bedtime with DD1 first and then taking baby to bed a little later than normal. Sorry, I know this isn't helpful but I know the struggle! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906260 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:05:25 +0000 cake2017 2906260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: This is helpful thank you. I would like to keep nursing her before bed which wouldn’t work with Lo1. As I mentioned she is so intrigued by him she won’t stay on the breast. </p> <p>I noticed last night she was 745 and the night before that she was 8. </p> <p>@pachamama: I was thinking a longer gap but throughout the day she’s 1.5 wake time. I will try tonight after the last nap. If I put her down between 415-5pm that would start bedtime around the time I am almost done with LO1 so maybe it will allow for no to LESS crying? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906259 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 05:20:57 +0000 pachamama 2906259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OOoo this is so hard. My toddler also absolutely wouldn't self-entertain. I think you might be able to put the baby down after toddler goes down. They go to bed later I found those early months. Then you'd feel less stress about the 4:30 nap. they need a longer wake window too, try to make it around 2 hours after she wakes from last nap. We also did a 4:30 nap for months and he would still go down at 7:30/8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906258 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:01:59 +0000 Kemma 2906258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I quite often do solo bedtime for my three kids (now 7y, 4.5y and 20m) and I find it way easier to put the big kids to bed before I deal with the baby! To be perfectly honest, I’ve never managed to get any of my kids into bed before 1830, my big kids share a room and are usually in bed by 1900 on a school night and then i nurse the baby down and she’s most often in bed by 2000. I found that a lot of the “suggested” routines just weren’t that workable with two and three kids so it became more about finding a groove that worked for us (I’d say that my big kids are on a 7-7 schedule and #3 just slots in around them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906257 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 02:15:00 +0000 cake2017 2906257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyDi: Okay, i agree it’s different daily. Maybe i’ll look at spacing out the naps because she’s still on bbc 3-4 naps. She’s napping well so i don’t want that overtiredmess but it looks like she is with it taking a long time to settle at night </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906250 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:23:15 +0000 bhbee 2906250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: yes order the haakaa! It totally saved me with #3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906242 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:58:41 +0000 LadyDi 2906242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: maybe keep her up later or cut her last nap off so she isn’t sleeping until 6 then you can put her to bed earlier. It’s hard at this age. I feel like every day our schedule is a little different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906232 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:37:50 +0000 cake2017 2906232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ilovepie: Lately he’s been wanting to be close to me, helping me out with things etc. I can try to put her down first and see but I don’t think he will want to hang out in his room alone </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906231 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:36:13 +0000 cake2017 2906231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyDi: I have been trying to follow the clock as well with the wake times. During the day it’s pretty much smooth it’s the evening that starts to go to crap because I am trying to make sure she’s eating and gets that last nap in too. Maybe I should extend the wake time if she woke up at 6pm???? She fell asleep at 745pm and I put her in the crib at 7- </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906228 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:33:26 +0000 cake2017 2906228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: Sometimes the bottle worked. I haven’t been able to pump(electric) because of both kids. Just didn’t work- they want my attention, booking up stuff etc so I use manual as well once in while. I need to look into the haaka (sp). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906227 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:33:00 +0000 LadyDi 2906227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5.5 mo goes to bed about an hour and a half after his last nap. So if he wakes up at 6 I start his bedtime routine around 7:30. I am bfing right now but he gets a bottle before bed and then I pump later. This is prime distracted eating time and it’s so annoying. The bottle is easier and I can make sure he’s full. </p> <p>I don’t do solo bed time often but when I do (I have a 4 yo and almost 2 yo) I will either put on a show for then to watch or they play in someone’s bedroom. My 2 yo understands that he’s supposed to leave me alone when I’m putting the baby to bed and for the most part he does but it’s hard sometimes. He’ll run in and distract everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906218 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:53:30 +0000 ilovepie 2906218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's been a while and I didn't solo much, but I remember shutting my 2.5 DS clinger in his room while I put the baby down. He didn't necessarily like it, but it was what had to happen sometimes because he was too loud right outside the door of my room. He quickly learned to entertain himself for 15 mins until I could come put him to bed too. ( We also had to take away the tablet at that age for behavior reasons.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906216 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:53:07 +0000 bhbee 2906216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: not sure if it would help, but would a bottle help her be less distracted? Less work so maybe she could get it down more quickly? Annoying I know, but I did a tank up bottle for a long time at bedtime - I would just pump after kids were asleep (I hate the electric, I would manual pump while using haaka on the other side). Perhaps as a bonus you could get a little extra in her and get a bit longer sleep! You could even let toddler help hold the bottle while you read or whatever. </p> <p>I’m not a great one to give advice on baby sleep, but I somehow survived lots of solo bedtimes so solidarity - it will get easier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906214 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:46:18 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2906214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017 Ugh I hated that last nap so very much. It just messed everything up and was so hard to time. When my younger started taking forever to fall asleep for it, we phased it out. If he took longer than 10 mins to fall asleep, we got him up and did early bedtime. He was way more stubborn with sleep and dropped that nap earlier than my oldest. So I think in your situation, if the late nap becomes annoying and they fight it, I would get them up and do a 6 pm bedtime. You’ll still have to do a distraction for your older but could do bath together, books, and then separate. If you can’t distract the older, do books and songs with the baby in with you guys and get the older to bed first then nurse the younger. Your younger will be tired and cranky probably but hopefully would adjust.</p> <p>If you really want to keep the late nap, I would do your olders usual bedtime and then maybe just do the baby at 7/730 instead. I definitely found we had to be less stringent about awake times for second kid because their whole schedule couldn’t dictate the olders life. TBH I really prioritized my olders schedule because he was in school and so tired. So I agree with keeping his schedule the same like you said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906213 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:35:38 +0000 cake2017 2906213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@muffinsmuffins: @Madison43: Well we took away phone a few months ago because he started wanting it all the freaking time and not eating unless he got it. I would hate to bring that habit back even if it’s for 30 mins. He also finds a way to need help and it distracts baby.</p> <p>I breast feed her and she just stops when she hears him or hears anything lol. It’s annoying :/.</p> <p>What time do you think she should go to bed? Tonight I did a late nap as mentioned above but she still cried and fell asleep at 745pm. She was in the crib at 7pm. I went in once and offered pacifier and patted her but didn’t work so much.<br /> I want to keep my toddler’s bedtime the same as it works best for him and the family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906211 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:25:51 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2906211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would your older pay attention to an iPad or show? We would put the 4yo in his room with the iPad and he would be totally engrossed for a game or show while baby bro went to bed. Maybe even just books or a special toy in their room? I definitely remember when little guy was very young, we would wake him at 5 pm latest so bedtime wasn’t screwed up.</p> <p>We have done combo bedtime for a long while. Usually we split it between us but it’s pretty easy to do solo. Boys are 15mo and 5yo now. Older is a high sleep needs kid so early bed never was an issue. Now we do bath for both at 6:15, older brushes teeth while I get little guy in his Jammie’s and sleep sack. Jammie’s for older and iPad or book in his room while I give little his bottle and book and song in his room, leave then go to the oldest room for book and song. Both in beds by 7. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906209 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:07:15 +0000 Madison43 2906209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: my kids are 4 and 6 now so I honestly don’t remember when we dropped the late afternoon nap BUT when my little one started needing to go to bed before my kid, I used to give the baby a bottle in a dark room with the white noise on while my toddler sat quietly by the room (with the hall lights on) and looked through some books with her own milk. It worked most of the time bc the toddler felt like we were all together and the dark/white noise combo was enough for the baby to not be super distracted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bedtime-routine-with-two-kids-i-need-some-help#post-2906203 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 19:53:22 +0000 cake2017 2906203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> So my question is how can I put my 4 month old down early for bed with my 2.5 yo who wants to be with us all the time? </p> <p>Toddlers bedtime is 6/630pm on the earlier side when he doesn’t take a nap at school like today.</p> <p>Baby is usually in the room with me when I put him down but she’s been struggling to fall asleep at night. </p> <p>I can’t find a time to do her last nap. So far it’s been upstairs by 4:15 or 430 and she will sleep for 30 mins but not going to sleep until 7pm with me doing the toddlers routine.</p> <p>I would do her bedtime first but I nurse her and she WILL NOT nurse with toddler around as she’s so curious(previous post). </p> <p>Bedtime suggestion? Time for baby to go down?</p> <p>Tonight I put her down for last nap at 5pm but she fell asleep around 530pm and slept until 6pm. I nursed and started bedtime routine at 630pm and put in crib at 7pm. She has been crying off and on- I went in offered pacifier, pat and shush but she spits out pacifier etc nothing working. </p> <p>Anything is helpful thank you!</p> <p>oh and nights I am by myself- DH works late. </p>