Hellobee Boards

I've only had to do it a few times, but I put the baby in the tub while the preschooler plays upstairs, then when W comes out B goes in while I get W in jammies. We go back into the bathroom to brush everybody's teeth and so B can say goodnight to W, I leave B in the tub while W gets a story and a song and into bed, and then back to B to get him out and do his routine.

We have intentionally started putting all 3 of our kids to bed at once because it actually makes it easier for us. There are challenges but I just go in with no expectation of speed and try to savor my time with the kids. To me, doing them all together is much easier than doing each one alone and then having to entertain the older ones while I'm putting younger down. The 2 older ones share a room which makes it much easier actually.

Our routine: We all head to the bedroom, each person gets their teeth brushed (I do it, not them, even the 5yo, and we do it in the bedroom, not the bathroom), then jammies on. The other 2 just kind of play while I'm focusing on the teeth/jammies one. Then when all 3 are ready, we read books, each child gets to choose 1 book. After books, if I'm alone, I take the baby to her room and sing to her and put her in bed and head back to the boys' room, I can spend some time with them and take turns lying in bed with each one (sometimes they want "a long cuddle") while I'm singing them songs, sometimes we chat a little bit too. I guess that it helps that the baby is sleep trained so we just have to go in her room, sing a song, and put her in bed so the boys aren't alone for too long, don't know how much 1:1 attention your youngest needs to settle down.

I mostly solo bedtime and it's often crazy, one key for me is start early so it's not so rushed. I think it will be harder when LO2 is no longer in a crib and contained. Usually I get both completely ready together, read to little one (big wants to listen too) and put him down, then if that works I go read to bigger one and get her to sleep. But 1.5 years ago I was often reading to her while nursing a baby!