Post-baby routine

[Keeping up]

In particular those with other kiddos, how do you intend to plan your evenings (in particular). I always find everyone needs you in the evening and I am not sure how we will sort it out.

With #3, dh took over the bedtime routine for #2 (22 months at the time) and I took on #1 (3 3/4 yrs) and #3. Our second is a bit more sensitve so that was really good for him.

However, this time around we have a real young one with #3 (only 17 months when babe is due). I still rock him to sleep every night and really don't want to give that up - one of my favorite parts of the day. The older pair are really easy to put to bed now - same room and we have a good routine but where do I fit new babe into the equation?

Somehow - it is these things that stress me out. Meal times will be tough but bedtime is terrifying me!

Anyone have some brilliant strategies they plan on attempting?

[sebarnes]

I am interested in seeing replies to this, because it is one thing we worry about. DH can help dd go to sleep most of the time, but he works nights at least one week out of the month, and I have no idea how we are going to handle it!

[saratchka]

I'm also curious. I'm a little overwhelmed by the whole idea of putting two to bed at once! It can take up to an hour to get DD to sleep, and that's when we wait for her to cue that she's tired. Not sure how I'll manage that with an infant as well. :

[mataji4]

We have three now, and my husband and I trade off nights (sometimes we end up doing 2 nights in a row) putting all of them to bed- stories and a song. So when baby comes it will be all him for a while, then I'll start doing a night here or there, and by the end of summer we should be back on our every other night schedule. I just snuggle them and read them stories at different times in the day, usually while I'm nursing, and that seems to have worked out fine before. We have a really consistent bedtime routine, starting about 7:00, so it doesn't matter which of us is the bedtime person.

[boheime]

I am pretty much in charge of bedtime. The kids and I crawl into bed and we nurse/snuggle while I read whatever chapter book we are currently reading.

[Jilian]

I am scared to death at the thought of bedtime with two kids! I'm going to try to wear the baby in a sling and continue with DS's bedtime routine as normal. We usually brush teeth, potty, read a book, and then I sit with him for a little while and listen to lullabies. I'm just scared of the night waking. DS lately has been getting up at 2:00 to come "hang out". I'm scared he'll wake the baby and everyone will be crying. It's gonna take some getting used to. DP is usually not home by bedtime so he can't help much.

[mumm]

For those of you who are expecting your second- don't panic! It all works out, and usually comfortably so. That was my big fear when pg with #2, since #1 was such a bear in the evening. Then when we added foster baby (#3) we didn't have time to anticipate trouble and it still worked!

I am alone for bedtime 6 nights out of 8 and of course I'm fearful of how I'll manage with two newborns! But an even bigger concern is dinner/bath then bed. My older two go to bed very well (they know they are tired!) but have trouble eating since they tend to get over hungry and then can't deal. And prepping for dinner in the summer is hard, since we tend to come home at the time we want to eat, rather than an hour before so dinner can cook. (I know, I know, if we just left the beach earlier..... but everyone is having so much fun!)

It all works out in the end!

[Mindy70]

I was scared of that with #2, but it worked out at that point that I read dd a story while holding/nursing the baby, and then let her fall asleep in my room while I held/nursed/slung the baby and was on the computer. She was just under three.

Now that I will have three, I made darn well sure that both dd and ds go to sleep by themselves. DS is first at 6:45 after two stories and a lullaby. Then dd and I read books, and she goes down at 7:30. Finished. With the baby, I plan to have a swing/bouncy/sling upstairs, and will just try and maintain my routine until I figure out what kind of routine baby has. Eventually, I want them all in bed by 7:30. This will be unpopular, but I totally can't do the "co-sleeping with them till they drop asleep" with this one: like I did with the first two. I just can't, so I will encourage #3 to get used to sleeping in his bassinette/portacrib. Without CIO. If I don't get time to myself in the evening and have to spend 2 hrs getting everyone down, I will go insane.

[mumm]

Originally Posted by Mindy70

Now that I will have three, I made darn well sure that both dd and ds go to sleep by themselves. .....If I don't get time to myself in the evening and have to spend 2 hrs getting everyone down, I will go insane.

LOL! I am currently bribing my older kids so they can start learning to A- get up and pee at night alone and B- not call to me when they can't reach their sippy cup of water and are too lazy to roll over and get it! I really want them to be sleeping through the night (or at least not needing me) by the time the twins come. DS is totally motivated by a star wars lego set and DD wants donuts. Whatever it takes.............:

[basset]

: I will definatley stick around for this topic!!!!

[Mab]

Originally Posted by Jilian

I'm going to try to wear the baby in a sling and continue with DS's bedtime routine as normal.

DS lately has been getting up at 2:00 to come "hang out". I'm scared he'll wake the baby and everyone will be crying.

i'm also wondering about this issue, and have thought about the sling idea, very much hoping that new baby will be a happy-in-the-sling-whatever-is-happening-outside-of-it baby . But another thing that scares me is what you said but the other way round...if we all sleep in the same room/bed/whatever sleeping arrengement, well, I recall from 4 years ago that a newborn wakes up several times a night, and there are a few minutes of crying until we manage a nice breastfeeding in bed position, or for changing diapers...I think that all those times ds1 will be awaked and crying and I can't imagine how to manage that situation: and that yes, we will ALL end up crying indeed.

thanks everyone who said it works out eventually...we'll see

[brittneyscott]

We're expecting baby #2 but I'm not worried about bedtime really. DD will be 22 mo. when the baby arrives but she goes to bed easily. DH and I walk her to bed and tuck her in at 8:30 every night. As long as we tuck her in with kisses and I love you's she sleeps all night and doesn't argue. I'm worried more about daytime with a toddler and a newborn than anything else!

[mommajam]

Originally Posted by AnnD

I
However, this time around we have a real young one with #3 (only 17 months when babe is due). I still rock him to sleep every night and really don't want to give that up - one of my favorite parts of the day. The older pair are really easy to put to bed now - same room and we have a good routine but where do I fit new babe into the equation?

I don't see why you would necessarily have to give up rocking this one to sleep. How big is your rocking chair? I actually just bought a very wide one on purpose. My youngest will be 18mo when this one is born. In this chair I will be able to hold even nurse the baby while also rocking him or reading stories to him while he sits next to me and leans on me or else sits on the other part of my lap. I can also prop the newborn up next to me on that chair and hold and rock the 18mo. My newborns seemed to be pretty happy as long as they were very close to me. Propping the baby up across the room might not work, but being right next to me and rocking with me probably will.

You also might find a way to get the older ones to help. I don't know what your children are ready for, but my oldest was five when the last baby was born and he did pretty well with being able to hold the baby or talk to him while I needed the baby distracted. My current five year old will probably be able to do the same when this baby is born. We'll just have to see.

Mostly, I think that once the baby is born and you actually have the baby in hand and the baby's cues and cries and quirks to deal with, you find your rhythm. Yes, there is a good chance you will have a night or two with everyone crying, but I have found (this is my fifth, and my husband works at night) that eventually it evens out. Just keep in mind that you WILL all transition.

M.