How do you get 2 kids to bed without duct tape or velcro suits and sheets?

[Snacks]

Step 1: Put DD2 into bed (after story) & kiss goodnight.
Step 2: Read to DD1 while she is in bed
Step 3: Put DD2 back into bed & kiss goodnight
Step 4: Sing DD1 a song & kiss goodnight
Step 5: Put DD2 back into bed & kiss goodnight.
Step 6: Provide DD2 with whatever she "needs" (e.g. my dinosaur, my book, my ribbon, my painting etc)
Step 7: Put DD2 back into bed & kiss goodnight.
Repeat steps 6&7 ad nauseam.

That's how we roll. Sigh.

[MummyNaomi]

If I am doing bedtime solo I will usually let DS watch a movie and have a later night (it doesn't happen that often here), that gives me time to get DD to bed and often DS will fall asleep in front of the movie (I turn all the lights down, set him up with a pillow and quilt so he can get comfy and cosy)

However when DS is tired and I need to put both to bed at the same time, I take them both into my bed and feed DD while cuddling DS and once one of them has fallen asleep, then I cuddle, stroke, pat the other to sleep. Once they are in a deep sleep I'll transfer them to their own beds.

[MummyNaomi]

double post

[Chrispe]

We turn the lounge room lights down low from 6:30-7pm onward. It has made a huge difference in how fast they fall asleep. Just a dull lit lamp instead of a big light makes them sleepier.

Also my SIL was having a lot of trouble with her 2yo & went to a toddler sleep seminar. One thing they warned her about was over stimulation (eg. TV/movies/news programs) easily over stimulate toddlers & kids. It was suggested at least 30min quiet before bedtime.

Some nights when my kids seem to be wound up I make them sit either on the couch or on a bed & we read quiet stories like A. A. Milne or Beatrix Potter. Or bedtime poems.
Don't get me wrong we don't do that every night (like I probably should) but it does seem to help when they have gotten to the ratty wound up stage.

Another tip for mum: deep long breaths, hard to do sometimes, can help save sanity though.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/23/ru3yramy.jpg

[chippyrabbit]

Sing 100 green bottles to them?

[HotI]

Also my SIL was having a lot of trouble with her 2yo & went to a toddler sleep seminar. One thing they warned her about was over stimulation (eg. TV/movies/news programs) easily over stimulate toddlers & kids. It was suggested at least 30min quiet before bedtime.

I think that can be an issue here, we try to ditch the tv but sometimes the two of them just stimulate each other. I need to separate them, but don't really want to rely on screens. One of my friends (chippyrabbit!) bored them to sleep singing 100 green bottles. Maybe i should try that more often.

Last night went well, DS had a nap in the afternoon so i got to spend some time just with DD. Bit of fun (painting the cubby), bit of exercise, and she fell asleep on the couch with a heated blanket while i was feeding DS. Worked well, cos when i put DS to bed, he woke and i had to lay with him for awhile.

Thanks for all the ideas, i will find something that works here.

[Jellyfish]

The first thing I do when I know I will be doing the nights alone is have a really big day, so lots of running around outside. I also try and make sure naps are early or skipped if the child is okay.

We eat dinner which is prepared earlier, shower together then all hop in the one bed for stories while DD2 feeds to sleep. Then I transfer DD2 to our room and come back to DD1. If DD2 is resisting sleep then I will put on a CD of music or a story for DD1 and settle DD2 elsewhere. I always do DD2 first as DD1 can understand waiting and being quiet.

I do it alone 3 nights a week and it can be rough