1 Adult: 2 Toddlers Bedtime Routines Needed

[CurlyTop]

Parents,

This is also posted in Parenting Issues...

My DH needs some time to himself. He's a SAHD. I want to take over the bedtime routine for my 16 month old twins so he can go out with friends or something.

Any suggestions on how one adult can manage two toddlers to bed? Our current routine is bath (DDs and me in the tub together), then DH and I lotion and diaper them and get them in their jammies (if this takes long, they both pull off their diapers!). Then quiet play and reading books, bottles of milk with lullaby CD playing, and sleep.

I'm scared cuz I work all day and then will be on double duty at night. But DH really needs some time for himself.

Suggestions needed badly, please respond.

Yours,
CurlyTop

[LiamnEmma]

I don't know if this will help, because mine are different ages (2 & 4), but I've had to put them to bed by myself a few times each week since dd (the younger) was an infant. I put them both down in one room after books. Initially this meant all three of us laying down together, me in the middle--and I often fell asleep with them :LOL Now that they're older I'm able to kiss them good night and be on my way. It's really tough. I feel for you and DH. DH and I both work and DH is in graduate school, so some nights I was really stressed out trying to do it all as you're going to attempt to do. But anyway, I always went down with them, with soft music playing in the background until the last few months or so. Good luck!

Leah

[Amandzia]

reply to curlytop

First I'd like to say that I'm so happy that you have one parent home with the kids. That's so important in the early years for as long as a family can manage it.
I always have gotten the twins ready for bed alone and I am a SAHM. My husband seems to need the time to himself after work. In reality all parents are tired by the end of the day, whether they leave the home to work or are raising the kids full time. I can't seem to get my husband to see that fact. He goes in the garage to putter around after dinner.
Ok, but that is not what you have asked about. It takes time to put kids to bed, but the sooner you begin to wind them down and prepare them, the sooner they'll be asleep. Bath and music are great. Mine liked stories by that age. I also found that some snacks work for calming them and some make them hyper. We definitely avoid sugar after dinner. The twins sleep in our room. They may fall asleep durring stories, or they fall asleep while I cuddle them (sometimes I fall asleep too). Then I move them to their mattress on our floor. Try to make this a pleasant time for all three of you and begin the routine as early in the evening as you can.
I hope your husband, if he needs time away from the kids, won't leave the house to do it. I hope he'll do an activity he likes at home and then spend time with you after the little ones are asleep. It's so important to your marriage to spend time together. Sorry, for butting in on that point. But many marriage get into trouble when the couple gets accustom to spending time apart.
Good Luck,
Amanda

[Lovebugsmommy]

I posted this on your other thread:

okay first off I don't have twins... so I really have no "real" ideas but ... here i go the momma that i used to baby sit for had 3 kido's twins b/g (18 mo) and a 4 yo ds she bathed with all the kids in the morning... (she was a ft sahm.. I baby sat so she could have some "alone" time at the gym) anywho... she and all three kiddos were in the tub with the door closed and lots of rubber backed rugs in there... and when they were clean she would plop them out on the rugs and they knew they had to stay there until momma was out of the tub... then they all went to the twins room...(all nekkid ) and the 2 boys played while girly got dressed and powdered and then it was brothers turn (twin) and he got dressed and powdered etc... and then they all trooped into big brothers room where he got dressed... and then into mom's room where they got a "special" movie... while momma got dressed


so... anyways... I don't know if that's helpful... but this momma loved her nekkid time (it always shocked me coming from a very private, only nekkid alone, type of family)

[yma611]

My Twins Bedtime Routine

I had problems with a bedtime routine for my twins, and my sister made suggestions that have really worked...we have stuck to the same routine EVERYNIGHT for almost a year, and DS's are now 2 1/2...This works like a charm.

I give the boys a "10 Min" warning...In 10 mins we're going to get ready for Night Night. I give them a bath (I actually drop 10 drops of lavender essential oil into the bath). I remove them one at a time, and help them brush their teeth, I let them watch themselves in the mirror. If for some reason they dont get a bath, they still get to wash their face & Hands and brush their teeth. Then we goto the bedroom...They get to pick out their jammies, they get to pick 2 books each (sometimes they dont choose, but I give the them options) I talk about the books and their Jammies (how cool their Buzz light year jammies are etc) as I am dressing them, getting them anticipating about the books, etc.

After we read the books, we say the Our Father...They both know it by heart because we have said it so much...it is cute....and if DH is out of town we will ask God to keep him safe...or something....They both get 20kisses, and 20 hugs really fast...cracks them up...they get a sippy cup of milk and off to bed they go....with rarely any problems...

i have heard that lullabye music is a stimulant, and does the opposite of soothing.

hope this helps....

-amy

[rdl2k5]

Have you considered switching to sip type cups? Our daughter has used those for a long time. She's 18 months now and I'm pretty sure she's used them since around 13 months. This would at least solve the night time "Feeding them their bottles" Our daughter still takes milk before bed most nights and we just hand it to her and she hands it back when she's done.

Just a thought to help with one of the small parts.

[cedoreilly]

My DH has been puttting our almost 3 year old twinsto bed by himself on the nights I work since they werer 6 months old (for the past year it has been three toddlers since we have an 18 month old in the mix now). Right after dinner, they go out to run (to tire them out). Then it is inside for sippy/snack/DVD. After the DVD is over, it is jammies. Upstairs to brush teeth and for EIleen to use the potty on last time. He lays down with each of them on their bed. Big hug, big kiss, big tickle.... Then he leaves and closes the door and hopes that they do not come out too many times as he tries to get Jimmy to go to sleep.

I do baths in the morning. IT is just easier for us. I have a routine down with them to do them but my DH does not feel comfortable doing it alone with them. (Basically, I just let them splash around while I get ready and then wash them).

[eden/averymum]

I have the exact same routine and dh or I often do it on our own when the other is working. Except I nurse, he gives a bottle.

It's is scary to start but you can do it hun.

[sarahloughmiller]

I know it seems overwhelming, but you can do it. I thought there was no way I could ever get my 3 kids to bed alone (3 yrs & 8 month twins) but my dh broke his leg and spent 4 days in teh hospital and I was forced to and I managed. Just do it and it will go fine and you will feel better knowing you can do it