https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:16:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2288194 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:29:17 +0000 getjazzy 2288194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: Just lots of crying from the baby, we are being referred to pediatrician (babies see GPs here) for possible acid reflux issues so she's very fussy. My toddler was a champ, I think he sensed I was in over my head. I just feel bad that I couldn't play with him as much and his bedtime books included a crying baby soundtrack :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2288167 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:59:06 +0000 MamaCate 2288167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@getjazzy: oh no what happened? There's always next time... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2288150 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:31:27 +0000 getjazzy 2288150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Soo my night was a total failure!! I hope it gets better but the first attempt was definitely a crash and burn. We are all alive though, so there's that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287688 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:45:56 +0000 MamaCate 2287688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Oh I have no problem using screen time when needed--my big girl has been watching curious George in the mornings on the iPad while I feed the baby before taking her to preschool so I think we will work that in if she needs some solo time. Glad you have something that works for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287675 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:36:18 +0000 Freckles 2287675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dinner is 5:30-5:45pm. Both take a bath at 6:15-6:30. LO1 (3.5 years old) will stay in LO2's (9 mos) room until he's all ready for bed. She will read quietly in her room, do puzzles, or if she's been good i'll let her watch a tv show. It usually takes me about 30 minutes to finish nursing and get him asleep by 7pm. Then we will play downstairs for a bit, and then do one last potty/brush teeth, read and say good night by around 8-8:15. </p> <p>If LO2 is really tired then i'll skip bath and just do a quick bum rinse, which means i'll just shower LO1 after i put LO2 to bed. </p> <p>I find that it was a little harder when LO2 was so young. At that age i usually put him in the swing/bouncer while i bathed LO1, and had him with us during LO1's bedtime routine since his bedtime was later than hers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287630 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:09:28 +0000 winniebee 2287630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to do solo bedtime for my 3.4 year old and 9 month old a few times a week. Dinner is at 5:45, baths start at 6:15, and I start putting the baby down around 6:45. While I'm putting baby to sleep, big brother gets to watch a cartoon in my bed. when that's over, we brush teeth and read stories and the older goes to bed. Baby goes to bed at 7, and big brother at 8 (but usually earlier on the nights I have to do solo bedtime). I've tried to make big brother be quiet or do his own thing while I'm putting the baby down and it just doesn't work. Cartoon FTW. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287623 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:03:04 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2287623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: we have a bath chair/hammock thing and I can fit both the hammock and DD1 in there together.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287490 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:48:37 +0000 Mamasig 2287490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NovBaby1112: @getjazzy: some nights will suck and you will cry more than the kids! But it gets better! Blink and months have passed :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287476 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:40:31 +0000 NovBaby1112 2287476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following- I'll be doing solo evenings with 2 in just a few weeks and I'm nervous about how it's going to go </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287411 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:18:08 +0000 MamaCate 2287411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@getjazzy: I did my first two solo nights last week (one unexpected, one planned) and we survived! The first one was really smooth because baby slept through big sister's bedtime routine and then woke up to nurse and go back to sleep. The second one both kids were awake at 9 and I was ready to tear my hair out! Good luck!</p> <p>I think I might try combining baths by doing them both in the same bathroom and having LO1 "help" with LO2's bath, then have him dressed and hang out in the rock and play while she does hers. Then she can do pjs and watch a show in her room while I put the baby down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287312 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 10:14:41 +0000 regberadaisy 2287312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@getjazzy: 🙋🏻 LOL I had to learn to tune the screaming crying baby out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287278 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:56:25 +0000 getjazzy 2287278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loving reading these! Doing my first solo bath/bedtime tonight with my 2 year old and colicky 4 week old and having visions of pure chaos hahaha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287246 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:42:36 +0000 mrsjyw 2287246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in a routine where we bathe of them at the same time. When dh is home it is much easier but it's not too bad when he's not either. I sit the nb bath next to the big tub. Ds sits and reads in his room and baby lays in crib while I get the bath tubs filled, ds tries to be extra helpful when dh isn't home and "bathes himself." Then we all go the nursery where I get the baby lotioned and dressed and then back to ds1's room where I lay baby down in the twin bed while I dress ds and then we all read for the night. Sometimes I'll nurse the baby during this time. We say prayers and ds goes down and I move next door to the nursery to put the baby down for the night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287228 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:28:38 +0000 Mamasig 2287228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I put the baby in one of those chair sling things for the bath tub beginning with his 1st bath. So he was used to the big tub from the start. I did them together once he was a bit sturdier and DS1 wouldn't scare him with splashing water and noise. That was 4 months old (I think). </p> <p>It gets so much easier as they get older! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287225 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:26:53 +0000 regberadaisy 2287225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I didn't start bathing them together until I was confident about baby's sitting upright skills. I've heard of others bathing the baby in a laundry basket. That might work when they can sit up but aren't pros yet? Lpl </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287224 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:26:52 +0000 rattles 2287224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: I started around 4 months, but it was infinitely easier when she could sit on her own around 6 months. She was sturdier and better able to handle the splashing and toys and whatever that come with her older sister :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287215 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:22:59 +0000 MamaCate 2287215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: @Mamasig: thanks ladies! When did you feel the baby was ready to bathe with your older LO? That is a great idea and sounds like a key to making things smoother! Right now I am on leave so I have been bathing baby during the day but that will be over soon!</p> <p>Thanks to everyone! It is so helpful to hear what has worked for others! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287192 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:10:02 +0000 Mamasig 2287192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo parent a lot because DH works shift. My boys are 20 months apart.</p> <p>As soon as I could I started bathing them together (probably when DS2 was about 4 months old). I would get the baby out the tub 1st and then do my older son. </p> <p>DS1 would watch TV while I put DS2 to sleep. Then I could focus on DS1. That worked up until DS2 was 15 months old. Now he boycotts bedtime and we end up going to sleep all at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287190 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:09:04 +0000 rattles 2287190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo parent 4-5 nights a week. Now (they're two years apart, 2.5 yrs and 9 months) I brush teeth while the tub fills then bathe them together. I diaper DD2 while DD1 plays with tub toys, then get them both dressed in pajamas together in DD2's room. We all say bedtime prayers while I nurse DD2, then DD1 picks out her bedtime stories and plays in her room while I read to DD2 and put her to bed. I then do stories in bed with DD1. They go down around 7:30 and 7:45-8. </p> <p>When DD2 was too little to bathe with DD1, I would bathe her in the sink (with or without a Puj tub) while her big sis played in the tub. I'd then set her in a bouncer in the bathroom with us while I bathed DD1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287165 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:53:12 +0000 regberadaisy 2287165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's hard at that age! I usually bathe DD2 first then set her in the bouncer then bathe DD1. DD1 doesn't sleep till 8:30-9:00 so I usually set her up in her room with the iPad while I put the baby down. Their rooms are right across from each other, that way I can still keep an eye on her. Honestly, in the early days a lot of time the baby was screaming / crying in her bouncer while I'm bathing big sister. When she was that young I only bathed her every other night.</p> <p>Now they're 3.5 and 1 so I bathe both together every night. Which is so much fun! Then I pull baby sister out and get her dressed. DD1 enjoys the extra play time. Then I pull DD1 out and we all go in her room while I help her get changed for bedtime.</p> <p>Good luck! It gets easier when the baby is older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287163 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:51:26 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2287163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my DH has a very unpredictable schedule so I do the bedtime routine alone every night. At 645 both girls get in the bath...DD1 gets naked and in tub, then DD2, bathe/dry/clothe little sis while big sis plays in tub, then I wash and dry big sis. Big sis gets naked time while I read to, nurse and put little sister down. Then we get big sister diapered, dressed, teeth and hair brushed. Then we go to her room and read and sing songs then bedtime. Most nights everyone is in bed by 730. My Littles are 2 and 4 months and this has been our routine since about 2.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287159 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:48:48 +0000 BandDmommy 2287159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo parent a lot. I bathe the two together. I then turn on a show for the oldest while i put the baby to sleep. Once DD (baby asleep), I do DS (3 year old) bedtime routine. Teeth brushing, potty and books. Both are in bed by 8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/solo-parent-evening-routine-with-2#post-2287154 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:45:44 +0000 MamaCate 2287154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 3 y.o. and a 2 month old. I am still trying to figure out how to handle both on the evenings when DH is at work (not every night but intermittently). </p> <p>Right now I have been getting my big girl down by 7:30/7:45 while baby snoozes in the rock and play and then feeding him and putting him down. But I think he needs an earlier bedtime soon.</p> <p>Thanks in advance! </p>