Sleepless.

First about the big guy. You'll have to show him red eyes (don't be too hard with him and just show him your unhappiness). Moreover, put turn the lights off and pretend you are also going to sleep. Hope it will work. Now, what to do with the little one? For hime use babies magic tea and he'll sleep through the night without pulling his leg. The tea has natural ingredients, so no harm, no preservatives.

One thing to do is step back and think if the children do what you tell them on a regular basis. When you say, "Go put your pjs on," or "Turn off the tv," do they? Or do they talk you in to doing something else? The first thing to do is to decide that you are in charge and to follow through with whatever you decide they need to do. Consistency is key. Kids don't want to be in charge of their own life or their parents. But they will still try. So it means thinking ahead of time of what are the rules, the boundaries, and then following through.

Secondly, is there a lot of stress in your home? They may be responding to that?

Lastly, a night time routine is amazingly helpful. They love mom, cozy time and it is a good time to hear about their day and what they liked or what worried them. We have the kids get pjs on, go bathroom, brush teeth. (Then we pray, say one thing we are grateful for and one specific person we want to pray for). Then they get in their own beds. I cuddle with the first one while my husband talks to the second, then we switch. Then I leave and they are expected to stay in their own beds until 7am. Bedtime is 8pm.

I think the most important thing is to be comfortable with the fact that you are the parent, you are setting the rules/boundaries in love and 100% consistency. Kids pick up not only on stress but on when you are comfortable with your decision. One can be firm while being kind. "I love you. Get back in your bed."

Hi R.. This is going to be a long response because I've been there - I know how hard it is not to sleep and to have babies that don't sleep properly. So, I think I can help you. I hope this doesn't seem like I'm judging you or anything, because I'm sure you are a wonderful mother.
Your 1 year old is going to bed WAY too late. Experts all say that babies from 9 months to 3 years old need 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep (plus or minus 2 hours depending on your own child's needs), with 1-2 naps a day. The average normal bedtime for this age group is between 6pm-8pm.
Is he staying up until 11pm with you because your 5 year old stays up that late (too late for a 5 year old, as well).
Do you have a nice bedtime ritual of a book, a warm bath, a bottle or snack, and then bed? Because if you do, your baby should be nice and relaxed when it's time to get into his crib. The whole bedtime ritual shouldn't take longer than about 30 minutes. Then give him something soft and snuggly that smells like you to cuddle in his crib and make him feel safe - that should help him learn to sleep in his crib by himself. If he cries out during the night, make sure he's not sick or uncomfortable - but then put him back in there and say things like, "it's okay, and shhh, and it's nighttime, night night" and then leave the room. Hopefully he'll fall back asleep in his crib. Does he use a pacifier? My 13.5 month old son love his pacifier at night time and in his crib, I know it comforts and relaxes him.
My son gets a book and then bath around 6:25pm every night, then a little lotion massage and quiet snuggles/humming while I get him in his pajamas, then I give him a little bottle (around 3oz, of warm milk) and he's so very relaxed by the end of the bottle. He's in his crib almost asleep between 6:45pm and 7pm every night and usually sleeps until about 6:30/7am everyday (with the occasional wake-up during the night due to sickness/teething/missing mommy, etc.). Babies needs a consistant nighttime routine and an early bedtime - it helps them know what to expect and makes it easier for them to relax and have a nice long sleep. Sleep is SO important to their little growing bodies and minds. Please try putting your baby down in the 6:30-7:00pm range. You won't believe how big of an effect it will have on him. He will get his recommended 11-12 hours of sleep at night. Keep this motto in mind: sleep begets sleep. Which means, the more sleep you get, the easier it is to sleep. This should help your son sleep so much better. However, your thinking you will get him to sleep past 7am might be wishful thinking. 7am is a perfectly normal and respectable time to be up in the morning. Especially for a little one who is so excited about the world. Please try this new way for atleast a couple days, see how he does. I would bet money that you'll see a huge difference and will get a ton more sleep for yourself (you should also aim to get to bed a lot earlier).
As far as your 5 year old is concerned...at 5 years old, kids have very active imaginations. He might be getting scared in the dark bedroom and wants to sleep with you because you are his comfort. Give him a nightlight in his room (if you don't already have one) and something to comfort him that he can hold on to if he wakes up in the middle of the night and is scared. Did he tell you what is scaring him? Maybe you can talk to him about it or another adult friend can explain what is scaring him and he can overcome the fear by understanding it.
Good luck with everything. I know it's hard - we all learn as we go.
Sorry if i seem like a know-it-all. My son didn't sleep for the first 5 months of his life because he was sick...so, I've been there.
:-)

For now you need your slepp or you will wear yourself out, put a mattress on the floor for the 5yr old in your room, put the 1yr old in a pack n play in your room, Rock each child, read a book, put on a night light, soothing music and put a child gate on your bedroom door so the 1yr old does not wander. Get your self some sleeping aids and go to sleep, This is clearly lack of routine, they are running you ragged. Set a timmer when the 5 yr old is expected to be in bed,make his bed and dress himself, reward him with a sticker each am and a prize or special event at the end of the week or month ect.. Keep activities low keyed, dim the lights, lessen sugar durning the day. My kids know after teeth brushing they head right upstairs, ages 2,5,&7. Also set a timer for when the 5yr old is allowed to get out of bed, he can lay in bed with a book, quite activity ect, but NOT allowed to run around or leave the bed. *I had to tell my son, "the birds are still sleeping, please go back to bed!"

Dear R., Has your 5 year old ever slept by himself?
also, is there anyone there to help you? I know it is not easy to break a habit but you should try a routine for bed. Tell him there is nothing to be afraid of. Give him a nice warm bath, read some stories, and say that big boys sleep in their own bed. He may be jealous of the baby and I hope this will pass. Most moms are very tired and we do survive. Grandma Mary (mom of 5)

You sound tired already! I have one and she sleeps late too, 11 pm, wakes up 4 am, and back to bed until 9 or 10 am. The difference is she sleeps alone in crib.

Babies go through sleep cycles just likes us. When we wake we can make ourself fall asleep again (shift position, for example). Babies when they get up have to learn to self console and do the same. When they are in your bed with you, it makes it harder for them to self console. They see you and they cling on, and sometimes wake up again for good. Sleeping 11pm till 7 am is not enough, i think, for a one year old, btw.

So I think for the best interest of you (u need to be healthy to be functioning mummy), and for them (learning to self console in bed is good practice for them to later self console in life), you may need to do a sleep trainig session with them. It is so hard but it is worth it.

THere are so many sleep training books and methods out there and I find the one that worked for me was the one that let them cry and u keep checking in on them every 5 mins, increasing it to 10 and 20 mins with each night. You say the same thing to them everytime u see them (like, mommy here, go to sleep, u r ok...) but don't pick them out of crib. If 5 yr old gets out of room, put him back in room. Keep doing that (and it will be sleepless week for you and husband), and it will work. I have heard horror stories and see it work.

I don't think kids should be in bed with you even though we like all the cuddling :) That is just my opinion. I know others feel it is ok to have them sleep with you. But if you are now being too tired, then it is a problem.