https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 21:15:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702387 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:40:45 +0000 ShootingStar 2702387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oskarsmommy: DS is 3 and DD is 6 months and our bedtime routine with her/both of them keeps changing. We kind of forgot what it was like to have a baby that young and have things changing a lot. DS has same routine every night - 7pm bath (most nights), PJs, books, potty, bed. </p> <p>But with DD it's all over the place. At first when she was born I would nurse her around 7 and we'd all do stories together in our bed. But now she's too distractible and needs a really early bedtime. So by 6 or 6:30 I have to take her up and put her to bed. It would be really difficult for me to do alone because she gets too distracted by DS and DS doesn't like to get left alone, even with his tablet. And because she needs such an early bedtime, I wouldn't be able to do DS first. But I think you just have to find the system that works for your family. If your LO1 can sit quietly looking at a book a tablet, you may have no problems. Mine can't sit still to save his life :silly: . And as Anagram pointed out, when they get a little older and have the same routine it'll be *much* easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702323 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 08:16:41 +0000 RonjaL7 2702323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 10 month old son will not take a bottle or settle with my 2 year old daughter in the room. So I usually ask her to go pick a book out for us in her room and put out some toys for her while I feed my son. She typically stays in her room but sometimes she stops in. I just deal with it and if my son is still wound up as long as I leave the room he settles pretty quickly and sleeps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702317 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 08:07:28 +0000 CoffeeMom 2702317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm alone M-F, and I have a 4 year old DD and 7 month old DS. His bedtime is technically before hers. I get both of them ready for bed together, and then she likes to cuddle with us and help read stories to him. Then we turn lights off and I nurse him. Most of the time she falls asleep next to me, and I just transfer her to her bed. If she doesn't fall asleep, we move to her room after DS is asleep and finish her bedtime routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702300 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:11:14 +0000 MrsB2012 2702300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get my 3.5 y/ and 2 y/o ready together. Sometimes they bathe together first too. We usually read 1 story together then I take the 2 y/o to bed and sing her a song. Then I go back to the 3.5 y/o read her another story or two. We just added #3 3 days ago, so I'm hoping to have her fed first, do the older girls routine, then get baby ready for bed after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702295 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 05:52:31 +0000 Pumuckl 2702295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't figured it out with four yet since the twins don't really have a set bedtime yet.<br /> With two we just get everyone ready, then read stories together (this part is the same whether it is solo or not) after that it's off to their respective beds/rooms and I tell them another story and sing their good night song out in the hallway between the two rooms. Not nearly as bad as one would think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702252 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 23:28:49 +0000 travellingbee 2702252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dang, y'all are rockstars! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702246 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 22:59:52 +0000 birdofafeather 2702246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depending on the day, it was anything from setting up a play station area, putting on a show, getting baby ready while at the dinner table or once I even had my SIL on FaceTime with DD1 and she went through everything with her to get her ready for bed. It was amazing! They are 2y9m apart and it's so helpful that she can sit in the tub and get out in her own now at 4. DD2 uses to take longer for bedtime when she was 0-8m but now she goes down easily and quickly. They have about an hour between bedtimes now so we have the time to kill. I'm actually looking forward to when DD2 can hang and we can all read books together and such and then put them down at the same time. Since bedtime routine stretches for 1.5 hours because of the staggered bedtimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702227 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 22:29:59 +0000 snowjewelz 2702227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't done it yet, but thankfully my 2 month old's night time SEEMS to be settling down so if I have to do it let's say tomorrow, I'd just get DD1 ready and put her in bed with the iPad while I nurse DD2 to sleep, probably with open door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702172 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:32:37 +0000 MamaCate 2702172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: we have worked really hard on the idea that a "show" at bedtime is a privilege that is earned. If she can't turn it off when it is over, she loses it for the next night. I will also take it away for excessive misbehavior. If she lost her show, she will play in her room or my room until LO2 is asleep. </p> <p>We usually do this for a week or two at a time minimum so it helps that everyone gets used to the routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702171 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:32:18 +0000 fancyfunction 2702171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get the baby down first while the 4 yr old plays in her room. Then I feed her dinner and so the whole bedtime routine. When the baby was smaller, I did the reverse and we read books in bed, then I fed him and put him down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702168 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:30:18 +0000 MamaCate 2702168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: we do this all the time! Kids are now 5 and 19 months but the basics have been the same since about 8/9 months?</p> <p>Everyone brushes teeth.<br /> Everyone gets a bath.<br /> LO1 gets in pjs on her own while I get LO2 in pjs.<br /> LO1 likes to come upstairs and we brush her hair.<br /> LO1 watches a show on the iPad in my bed while I nurse LO2 to sleep down the hall.<br /> When done, iPad is off.<br /> Go to her room, read a story, put her to bed.<br /> Do all.the.things to get ready for the next day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702167 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:30:02 +0000 bhbee 2702167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I solo bedtime a lot and it's changed over time. At first baby went to bed later so he often nursed while I read her stories and then I got him to bed later. Then when I sleep trained him around 13m he started going to bed at 6 or 6:30 so he went down first and by then, older was 4 and could handle waiting through his bedtime (which was not long after training). Also, if she was a good helper at bedtime I would do whatever she wanted after he went down - board games, reading, etc so that was an incentive. Just recently they are finally doing bedtime together, which can be hectic, but once it's done I can relax! So of course, we are now messing it up by expecting #3 in October. I really have no idea how that works, I guess it's back to the beginning where big two go down together and baby goes down later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702162 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:20:57 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2702162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do this multiple times a week. </p> <p>Dd is 8 months and ds is almost 3. </p> <p>At 7 we head upstairs. I get their jammies and baby's sleep sack on our bed. Both kids in the bath, dd is super quick. She still hates the bath! I take her out, lotion, jammi's, sleepsack. I sit on the toilet watching ds while I give her a bottle (I pump so she can have a big bottle before bed). When she is done her bottle (around 730) I run to her room and put her down and run back to the bath. I'm gone for about 30 seconds which I am fine with now that he is almost 3 and I have him start draining the bath before I go. Then I finish bathing ds. </p> <p>Dd probably half the time falls asleep while having her bottle. The other times she falls asleep quick once I lie her down (I think... I lie her down and leave and by the time ds is finished his bath she's sleeping). </p> <p>Ds is usually in bed between 745-8. </p> <p>Things that help are lying out everything before hand. When I have spare time I get the PJs, milk, etc all ready. I have their noise makers on, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702159 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:19:40 +0000 KayKay 2702159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It kinda changes by age. </p> <p>When I had DD2, she started going to bed early pretty early on, so when I solo-ed, DD1 (2.5y) would either watch a show OR come with me into the room while I nursed DD2 and put her down, then I would do DD1 solo after that. *note: there were definitely some instances where she would not be quiet, I would yell, and eventually have to put her in her room crying while I finished DD2 routine.</p> <p>We had that routine for a long time -- DD2 would always go to bed first, so DD1 would either watch a show or come in with me and sit quietly after the stories.</p> <p>Now I have DS in the mix, alongside DD1 (almost 5y) and DD2 (almost 2.5y). He goes to bed later still, so I get DD1 and DD2 bedtime routines mostly together. Then DD2 gets put to bed about 30min before DD2. If DS is awake, he just lays on the floor/bouncer or I hold him while doing all of their stuff. Then he nurses and goes down right after DD2. On nights where he goes to bed in between them, DD1 either watches a show or comes in and sits quietly while he goes down.</p> <p>When DS starts going down early, well...I'm guessing I'll rely on a show and DD1 being responsible and a tattle tale :)</p> <p>It's basically a free for all, but we manage! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702147 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:07:03 +0000 Anagram 2702147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: I sympathize! My husband has a trip to London in May for 6 days/night. I'm kind of dreading it, but just because of all the extra work for me in general, not bed time specifically. I already make dinner and pack lunches, but now I will have to do their breakfast before I leave at 6:45 am too! uuuugh </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702146 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:06:32 +0000 Alba4 2702146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I let my 3.5 DS watch a show while I put my 8 month old down @6:30/7. Then I give my preschooler a bath and do his routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702145 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 21:05:06 +0000 Anagram 2702145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's changed over time. I was solo tonight (Dh had to work a little late and of course got in about 20 minutes after I'd gotten both kids to bed....he has a knack for knowing exactly when all the work is done, haha).</p> <p>When LO2 was younger, it was a lot harder. DH had a few OOT trips when LO2 was only 4-5 weeks old and that was rough because she was still having her witching hours, I was on maternity leave so both kids were home with me 24/7. Back then, I had to put the oldest to bed first (generally while the baby screamed in another room), and then I would have to leave the oldest wide awake while I comforted the baby--at least it taught LO1 to go to sleep by herself, but there were a lot of tears involved.</p> <p>Not that they are 3.5 and 18 months it's so much easier. Now they eat dinner together, bathe together, I do pajamas and all that together, and then I read 2 stories in LO1s bed to both kids, kiss LO1 and leave her and take LO2 to her crib, where I put her in her sleep sack, give her the paci and blankie, etc. It's much easier/smoother now. I had both girls in bed by 7:10 pm tonight, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702138 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:53:09 +0000 travellingbee 2702138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamabolt: that's what I did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702136 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:50:13 +0000 oskarsmommy 2702136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am pregnant with number two - and both my husband and I have jobs that demand more than 40 hours a week. 3-4 nights a week he gets home around 8 (after bedtime) and 1 day a week I stay late and he does bedtime solo. We basically never do it together. I need a reality check ladies - is this going to be possible with two kids? I want to manage expectations.</p> <p>Edit to add last night he worked until 11pm - which use to happen all the time, and now is about 3-4x's a month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702129 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:43:16 +0000 Smurfette 2702129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now LO2 is up later so she comes with us to read stories. Once I go back to work she will go bed earlier. So I am figuring LO1 can watch a show while I nurse and get her down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702128 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:43:05 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2702128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: whenever I have to do this, I panic and cry a little! It's SO HARD. F is 4 and C is 13 months with a strict 6:30 bedtime window My best thinking this past week was some PBS while I put the little one down. Sadly, that leads to a mega-meltdown when the tv goes off :bummed: Husband is going on 3 separate week-long trips this spring, so I better figure something else out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702125 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:35:32 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2702125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids share a room so they just do everything bedtime together. Sometimes lo2 goes down while lo1 has bedtime story and teeth brushing if lo2 is fussy. They are 4 and 1.</p> <p>Editing to add, if lo1 has to wait for me she just plays in the living room or looks at her books. We live in a pretty tiny house so the bedrooms are within eyesight and I can pretty much see/hear them no matter which one I'm tending to. Lucky in that regard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702120 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:32:52 +0000 Kemma 2702120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: yep, my big girl goes to bed first because my wee guy needs the quiet to settle down!</p> <p>My kids (4 and almost 2) shower together then once I've got them dressed and ready for bed they both climb into the big one's bed to read stories together. My big girl is happy to put herself to sleep while I nurse her brother before he goes into his cot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702116 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:30:22 +0000 mamabolt 2702116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tv show for the 4.5yo while I put down baby. He's 11 months and takes a while to nurse to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702110 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:27:57 +0000 Charm54 2702110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get dd1 ready first....PJs, potty, teeth brushed... then while I'm putting dd2 down, dd1 can play on her iPad, with her magic clip dolls or her magnatiles in the other room. Then as soon as dd2 is down, dd1 and I play together for a few more minutes then head right to bed. Now that they are older (18 months and 3.5) the process is much easier to do solo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702105 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:26:42 +0000 Boogs 2702105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: At 3, the oldest was easier to put in bed first, so I always did that then settled baby. It's crazy how hard it feels, but somehow we still manage to figure it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-you-solo-parent-with-2#post-2702103 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:22:47 +0000 travellingbee 2702103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who solo parent frequently, how to do manage bedtime with multiple kids. Especially if you have a baby/toddler. I was doing bedtime on my own the other night and I was like, What do I do with DS1 while I am getting DS2 settled? Because DS2 won't calm and settle down if brother is in the room. He just wants to play. </p>