Bedtime w/an older sib

It takes us an hour & half to get our three in bed...we switch each night between H & N getting a bath, both babies get in their jammies, 2 stories & get put in their crib. One parent stays w/ the babies to get them to sleep while the other parent goers w/ DD1 to brush her teeth, then bath, jammies, 2 stories & get in her bed. How do you do bedtime? I can't figure out how to get them in bed earlier. Mommy is very grumpy by the time I leave DD1s room!!

 

have you tried doing stories w/ all 3 children at the same time and maybe let DD#1 help tell one of the stories to the babies?

Alyson

 

QUOTE(AWerner @ Jul 12 2007, 03:44 AM) [snapback]327205[/snapback]
have you tried doing stories w/ all 3 children at the same time and maybe let DD#1 help tell one of the stories to the babies?

Alyson

Good idea!

I will also be interested in this post. Bedtime is wild here! Plus I need to figure out a way to get Ben and Emily's stories read to them.

 

Alyson had a great suggestion! My nights are pretty much the same, twins go to bed between 630-7 and the older 3 go at 745.

 

This is what I do ...

Feed twins solids at 5.30 pm (oldest eats snack)
Go downstairs for bath 5.45 (including oldest)
Feed twins bottle at 6.00 pm (oldest reads books in the same room and/or just plays; she sings songs for the twins as well, reads them books, shows them pics, she's involved)
Twins in bed 6.20 - 6.30 pm
Go upstairs with oldest, she watches TV while I make dinner
Eat dinner at 6.45 pm
Go downstairs at 7.00 pm
Read story / brush teeth, in bed at 7.15 pm.

She used to go to bed at 7.00 pm but I can't make that anymore since they twins are now going down at little later.

My oldest turned 3 in May. Personally I find it a must to do the twins first at this age, hopefully soon, they can have dinner all together when the twins start to eat table food (no more jar / baby food).

 

Our routine is easy. Once the babies start getting tired (6:30-8:00), change into their nighttime diapers, feed, set in crib. At 7:30 or 8:30 (depending on if nap was taken), older child changes into PJs, goes potty, and comes into my room. We pray together, sing 3 songs, drink of water, hugs/kisses. Off to bed.

It's a very quick routine 'cause we like to be out in the evenings, rather than having a bedtime routine that requires an hour an a half. We bathe at other times (oftentimes my oldest will bathe in the tub while I'm in the shower). The babies don't need a bath daily.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice! Tonight went much better: At 8:00 we gave the babies their bedtime bottles then went upstairs, DH did Rachel's bath while the babies rolled around on the floor of their room & I hung up laundry...and a quick peek at TS. Then DH switched me Natalie for Rachel, I did jammies for R & H and we played until DH brought N in, diaper & jammies for N, read 2 books to the babies, 2 to big sis, put all 3 in their cribs, I stayed w/ Rachel for about 5 min - we always talk about the day once she is in her crib, DH stayed with the babies until they were asleep (about 10 min), ....we cut it down to an hour. I know it could be a lot quicker if say, I feed the babies while DH did Rachels bath or we bathed them together. DH prefers to do it this way because really it is about the only time he has with them during the week. I would love to pare it down more though - so we'll see!!