Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

My twins are 3.5 months old - their last bottle ends up 7/7:30 - problem is that's also DS' bedtime. DH usually feeds both in living room and then we bring them up after everyone has fallen asleep. I want to start a nighttime routine though and preferably include them being in their room with a book, etc. Any ideas?

I could maybe make DS' bedtime a little earlier (he's almost 5) but then if he doesn't fall asleep it could interfere with twins' bedtime.

I suggested we feed them separately - each take one and rock/read, etc. but one will always have to wait until my older DS goes down and I'm free and they're usually overtired by then. What do others do?

TIA!

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

I had my twins first but I kept my bedtime routine simple.
If it winds up that your twins and DS are looking to go to bed at the same time I would feed the twins in your ds' room while your dh is reading or vice versa
Then say good night to your 5 year old and take the twins to their room and swaddle and bed.

Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

We had this same issue. Our twins are 4 1/2 months and my DD is 4. Things are still kind of fluid right now, but we figured out that the twins are happier if we put them down for the night earlier. So we're putting them down right after dinner around 7pm. Once they're down we start on the bedtime routine for DD and she's in bed by 7:30. We alternate baths too. One night older DD gets a bath the opposite night the twins get a bath.

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

Thanks for ideas. When Dh is out we do all go in DS room but it is chaotic and hard- maybe with DH it will go better. LML- does your DH or someone help you get evryone down?

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

i struggle with this as well. DD is 5, DS is 3 and twins are 9 months. it wasn't an issue when the twins were not sleeping through the night and feeding often, but now that sleep about 11-12 hours at night, it seems like everyone needs to go down at the same time.


DH and I tag team. He usually takes the older ones and I take the babies. On bath nights, sometimes we'll feed the babies while the older two are in the tub. I usually bathe the babies in the mornings when the older 2 are at school.

and I'll be honest, when DH is working late and not home, it's chaos. everyone is tired and cranky (including me! lol) When DH is not home, I honestly just let the older two watch a show or something until I can get the babies down and then I help them get dressed, brush teeth, etc. Sometimes on those nights, the older two do go down later.

GOOD LUCK!

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

I'm struggling with the same thing right now. DD is 3.5 years old and goes to sleep between 7:30-8:30 depending on dinner and what the twins (3 months old) are doing. Part of my problem is that I am still nursing them and I haven't figured out yet how to successfully tandem nurse, so I'm feeding one baby, the other is either crying or needs to be held, and of course like everyone else said it's the same time that DD is trying to have a bath and have stories read.

Re: Nighttime routine help - twins plus older sibling

These responses help so much to know I'm not alone in the chaos:)! I did try some suggestions and at least now we r feeding twins in their room so they go to sleep in cribs rather than the boppies- but timing is so key with DS- argh so frustrating.