I'm also a bit of a routine freak but i feel in control that way and feel somewhat equipt to handle anything the day may throw at me. For the most part
I have a 3.5 year old and a 17 month old.
If we go out we generally go out in the early part of the day because my evening routine starts with organising dinner around 3ish. If i have to go out in the afternoon i do my best to have dinner prepared even earlier. The evening routine is pretty much me with the boys DH doesn't get home till about 6ish.
DS1 won't have a day sleep anymore but DS2 does and he's generally in bed from 2-4ish. I use this time to prepare/make dinner.
When he wakes we have a bit of a play and if they need a bath (i bath every second night) they are in the bath about 4:30ish.
I then put pj's on and start serving up dinner, they eat anywhere between 5-6 and DH usually walks in the door as i'm finishing up giving them their dinner.
After dinner i clean up while DH has a play with the boys and then we do teeth, bed and stories. Depending on the day and how tired they are, they are in bed anywhere between 6:30-7:30pm. DH and I usually wait until the boys are in bed to eat our dinner peacefully
DS2 is usually in bed just before DS1 and then i lay in bed and read to DS1. With a new bub on the way the boys are going to share a room soon so the bed/reading may take some getting used to with the two of them together but i'm hoping DS2 will be happy to quietly lay down and listen to a story soon too.
My DS is a fair bit younger than your two, but this is what works for us...
- DS dinner is about 5.00 pm. While he's eating I try and get a bit of prep done for our dinner.
- He usually has a bit of a play after dinner and then in the bath at around 6.00pm. If DH is home he does the bath while I cook dinner, if not I make sure we have something simple for our dinner.
- After his bath he's dressed in pjs etc, has another quick play with DH (so they get a little bit of time together), has a story, brushes teeth, breastfeed, then DH gives him a cuddle and sings him a song before he goes to bed at around 7pm. While DH is doing that I usually finish off our dinner so we can eat by about 7.30pm.
Hi,
I have just had my third baby. And my two eldest 8 and 6 are still in bed by 6-6.30pm. They have always gone to bed at this time and sometimes since bubba has arrived it has been later, but now 3 months in they are all in bed and asleep by 6.30pm. I start the night time routine as soon as they get home from school. We eat really early, anywhere between 4.30 and 5.30 depending on the weather and how organized I am with food. Our homoeopath told us that the best time for children absorb nutrients from food is between 3 and 5pm, so instead of afternoon snacks we try and have an early dinner, and then a snack before bed if they need.
Our night time wind down since they have been tiny is dinner, bath, book then bed. After dinner, it's quiet time, no more playing and loud talking very quiet, its winds them down ready for bed. I LOVE having the house so quiet so early, it started when I was a sole parent and it has continued into our new family life... works for us, not sure it works for everybody. they are up between 6-7am but happily play until I get up, if it's weekends they wait a bit longer then through the week. I get up to do lunches etc at about 6.30.
Just a quick one for MyBoys - the bedtime routine became much more simple for me once DD1 & DD2 (similar ages to your boys) shared a room. A few weeks of novelty but now it's a smooth operation once they're both in pjs, listening to a story together and then lights out. Then they both sing Twinkle Twinkle to me!!
RoyaUK that's really reasuring thank you, they are really good together (for the most part ) so i have a feeling it's going to be a really positive thing for them. Love that your girls sing to you. So sweet
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