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Two Under 2
klp28
member
Bedtime routine question
klp28
member
in Two Under 2
I'm sure this gets asked often, but I promise I did look back a few pages and couldn't find anything 
My DS is just 5 days old and I'm feeling absolutely sick about how I'm going to manage bathing/bedtime with my toddler with a newborn thrown into the mix. My H goes back to work tomorrow (he works either 7a-730p or 10a-1030p), so I tried a dry run doing it by myself tonight. Let's just say it did not go well. I nursed DS before I started her bath and put him in the bouncer next to us. They both did fine through bathtime, but he started screaming just as I was going to start reading to her. I ended up sobbing and my H had to come up and get the baby so I could finish putting DD to bed. Then my poor DD was asking for her dad to put her to bed 
I'm hoping you ladies have a brilliant solution for how to manage all of this. I desperately don't want DD to feel second best, especially right before she goes to bed--a time that was always special and relaxing for her.
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Re: Bedtime routine question
First off congrats! Bath and bedtime can be tricky with two little ones. I used the same technique you did above (feed baby first, bathe the older one and put the LO in the bouncy seat). If the baby got fussy I would just grab the ergo or the moby and wear him/her. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but for the most part we make it through. We also only do bath night every night in the summer. During Spring/Fall/ Winter we bathe Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. GL, you can do it!
Ditto all this! I would try different things on different nights, too. Some nights I would put DD in the swing, some in the bouncy seat, some in the Moby to see what works best. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the newborn changes so fast that this stage doesn't last forever. Once you figure out what is working for you, it may change! But it certainly gets MUCH easier as they get older.
Don't worry about finding a routine right now. It took me a good month or two to figure it out and now that I have, it's easy for me. I'm home at night by myself a lot (DH is a firefighter) so I had to figure something out. Baths are a part of our night time routine, so the kiddos get one each night. Here's what I do...
I should also mention that the kids share a bathroom (Jack/Jill) which is really nice.
While the tub is filling, I lay DS on the bath mat while DD plays - get DS' diaper and jammies together and bring in next to tub. DD's next to her changing table.
DS isn't big enough for the big bath with DD, so I bathe him in his little tub which I put INSIDE the big tub. I put DD in the other 1/2 of the tub. We'll all play and laugh (DS is facing her and LOVES to watch her).
I'll soap up DD first then DS. After DS is done, I pull him out and get him dressed right next to the tub while DD continues to play. We sing, ready books (those that can go in the water) while I'm tending to DS.
Once he's dressed, I pull the plug on DD's water and put him in his crib. Get DD out, dressed and she's down for the night.
Then back in to clean up the tub and will then feed DS and he's down for the night.
It can take anywhere from 30mins to an hour from start to finish. But this has worked really well for me and the kids know the routine as well so it's gotten easier.
You'll find your groove - give yourself some time!
BFP#1 1.28.10; HB 6w5d 2.18.10; No HB 3.8.10; Natural m/c 3.9.10 at 9w3d
BFP#2 - 7.22.10 DD born 3.16.11
BFP#3 - 8.11.11 DS born 3.27.12
On the nights when I parent solo I don't go by the clock. I go by the kids. If DD2 (the baby) is awake and fed, I take that opportunity to feed and bath DD1. Then it is back downstairs where I bath DD2. Usually, after both baths and DD1's dinner it is time to feed DD2.
Best advice I can say is follow your baby's rhythm and know that there will be crying. You will feel like you have 100 balls in the air and feel a little frazzled at time but the best advice I got was just do what you have to do. If both are crying or both need something, tend to the one with the more pressing need. And know, you are a great mom. The crying happens.