2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

I am getting scared aout this one aspect of having 2 under 2. I thnk its bc my coworker had a bay in october and her older one turned 2 in late novemeber. She said the younger one just doenst sleep and in order not to wak the older one she immediately jumps when the newborn cries.Granted he also has a tons of allergies and acid reflux but still she says there were nights he slept an hour!!!!
What i have started doing now is getting my dd very inependent as far as bedtime. I dont sit with her and give her the bottle we do that before bed then brush our teeth change the diaper and hug and kiss and goodnight. I am hoping by doing this now it will be one less thing i have to dalw ith in april.
thoughts?

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

The 1st 3 months are the hardest, i won't lie to you you are in survival mode.

The 1st couple months, DH took one and I took one and we switched off each day.

I kept the older one and tried to work the younger one into her routine. It took a good 3 months to do and now 6 months later, they take a bath together, get pj's together, and go to bed at the same time. Mine are also in the same room.

I do the same as your coworker said, in the beginning especially since they are in the same room, i'd jump at every peep she made, but now, my older one is used to her noises and vice versa. My older one actually cries now if we try to take her little sister out of the room cause she's fussing.

It'll all work out, just have a game plan, and stick to it, consistency works everytime

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

Bedtime for my DS is easy... he eats, brushes his teeth, change of his diaper, into pajamas, and into the crib he goes! They are not in the same room though. He ASKS to go to sleep and sleeps like a rock, so even if DD was crying, he would NEVER wake up. It is hard though if DD wanted to be held while I was trying to get DS ready. I would sometimes be running around like a chicken without a head trying to get it all done. But, it takes a couple of months to get it down and I just took it day by day.

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

It's difficult. A friend is doing this now with 3 kids under 2. She has twin toddlers and an infant.

They are all on a strict schedule. She does feedings about every 3 hours for the infant (was every 3 for the toddlers too but she is breaking them out of that). She told me that having them on a schedule is mandatory since she needs to be able to schedule things around their feedings and nap times.

I am pretty sure bed time is 8:30 pm for the toddlers and then she sits with the infant to put him to sleep (breast feeding). Her husband does the late night feedings if/when they wake up.

The twins are in their own room and the infant is with the parents in their room.

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

It is not easy....I have a stepdaughter who just turned 2 that shares a room with my DS that is 10 months. DS has always been really good about going down, so we put him in bed about 15-20 minutes before her and once he is asleep he will not wake up even through her cries and demands to not go to sleep. But if he isn't sleeping first she will not go to sleep and he will stay up too if he hears her. I am STILL waking up at every cry he makes afraid he is going to wake her because she thinks it is play time when she wakes up. Once you get into a routine, it isn't that bad...but it can be nervewrecking at times!

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

Like sweetness said the first 3 months were the hardest. I would put the oldest to bed alone and let DH take care of the baby. It was actually a nice break bc I would read Nate a story and chill with him until he went to sleep. Then I would take the baby and get him ready for bed. Now, I take both of them upstairs at the same time and then read them a story together.

It's hard to say how tough it will be until you have the baby and see it's temperament. It will be fine, all about trial and error to find what works for you and your family.

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

I got lucky with DD#2, she is a good girl but basically I give her a bath after I finish giving Sydney dinner...

Then we go upstairs and play and give Syd her bath while Casey chills in the bouncy or swing...

Then I feed Casey and put her to bed after...

DH is usually home to help but if he's not it hasn't been too terrible yet...

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

thanks everyone

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

My boys are 15 months apart. Their rooms are right next to each other. In the beginning I had fears that the baby would wake Jack and it really wasn't an issue. Now my 10 month old goes down at 7:30 and my 2 yr old goes down at 8:30. At different points in the night either one of them may cry or wine for a few minnutes and they usually don't wake each other. I also don't pick them up at night, so if they do - they will usually go back within 5 minutes.

That being said I think it depends on what kind of sleepers you have and what your parenting style is. My kids go down awake, in the crib. I think that has alot to do with it.

Re: 2 under 2 how did you handle bedtime routines at first

like sweetness posted...the 1st 3 months (or 6 months here) are the hardest. Until a "routine" has been recognized....OY! DS slept in our room for several months because he was colic and did nothing but scream from 7-11pm.

NOW: DS goes down between 6=7pm and sleeps a good 6-8 hours NORMALLY.

DD goes down 8-9pm, his crying does not wake her up in the middle of the night

He does get easily distracted when he hears her, so she is downstairs or in the bath with grandma when he is going down.