Nap/bedtime advice for having a toddler and a newborn

balibaby

I'm due with #3 in May and my main concern is getting ds who will just be 24 months down for a nap and bedtime while having a newborn. Right now we rock and read stories and he usually falls asleep while rocking for naps and on his own at bedtime for the night. He can fall asleep at naptime all by himself too, and I am thinking that maybe I should just bite the bullet and stop the extra comforting now. I feel like his whole nap time routine is half an hour. I am dreading having three separate bedtime routines to get all the kids down at night, it seems like it will take forever (I am usually/often on my own for bedtime.) All the kids will be in separate rooms. I also feel like DS, the baby and I are all going to be so smushed in the glider!

 Also, DD was always super easy and played or read by herself while I put DS to sleep for naps, but DS Is not like that, so I am also wondering what to do with him when the baby gets a little older and I have to put them down for naps and need it relatively quiet. DS is into EVERYTHING and is not to be trusted! Thanks for sharing your tips/experience, I'm hoping to have as short of a learning curve as possible.

CaitlinJ22

you have some time. Slowly you can wean his routine and rocking down im sure. It doesnt have to be painful for either of you. PLus as he gets older it may be easier. Just cut back or give him a choice of 3 short books and have him pick 2 and then rock for 10 mins, then a few days later rock a few minutes shorter etc. 

Most newborns sleep a lot and like to be up around 10 or so to be awake SO DD just slept at DS's bedtime and sometimes I would run in and stick a paci in her mouth and rush bedtime with DS. I felt bad, but the times she was out cold I would take my time and make up for it. Also bedtime was when she was asleep...so if she fell asleep and it was 15 mins early...so be it. 

Dont stress too much now, things will change over time and it all depends on your baby. I found it easier to put him to bed in the begninng as opposed to when she was 4-6 months old.

GL! 

celiabwatson

I'm on my own for bedtime 6 days/week. My strategy is that I put my son in front of the TV (I know I shouldn't, but it works) and rock my daughter to sleep around 7. My son doesn't go to bed until 9 so there's still time for him to wind down after the TV. Then I can give him all the time he needs. He's a high maintenance sleeper so it just wasn't possible to get his routine short enough to do it with her awake. He also has always had a late bedtime so it's worked out well.

Nap time is a little less routine. She sometimes falls asleep in the sling while I play with him and then I'm available for naptime. Otherwise I put her in her crib with some toys while I put him to sleep. She's in a better mood midday and will play independently for a little while as long as all her needs are met beforehand. He also goes down much faster for nap.