Hi Ladies,
I'd like some tips on how you handle bedtimes for a toddler and an infant who share a bedroom. Right now they're in separate rooms but we're moving next month and they'll be forced to share. Currently my husband handles bedtime for the toddler and I handle the infant. I usually have to rock her and feed her for a half hour or so before she's ready to go down. I do this in her room w/ lights out and music playing. At the same time, my husband is reading stories w/ the toddler in her room before he puts her down. I'm not sure how both activities can be handled in the same room because the toddler is loud and will wake up the baby if I do the baby's routine first and vice versa if I put the toddler down first. I'd really appreciate some tips on how you handle bedtime.
Have you considered having your infant sleep in your room instead of in the room with your toddler?
Good morning E.,
Can you keep your 9 wk old in the bedroom with you and your husband? I co-sleep with my 4 mo old and it has worked really well...if you can fit a crib in your master bedroom, maybe that is the best solution for everyone. Good luck,
My two boys, 18 mo. and 3 1/2, share a room. We put the youngest to bed first; I lay with him until he falls asleep. Meanwhile, my husband is reading my older son books on the couch. Once the youngest is asleep, we kiss our oldest goodnight and tuck him into bed (they share a full sized bed). This usually works out great. The oldest has only wakened the baby once. They sleep together until 3 or 4 and then the youngest usually wakes up and comes into our bed. I know your kids are a lot younger, but maybe you could put the younger one to bed first and then the older one. If the girls still have to share a room when they are a little older, sharing a bed is a good option. It is so cute to see them cuddle and they become so close. I hope this helps.
Get a sound machine and turn it up really loud. $20 bucks at babies r us. I have 2 boys that are 16 months apart. We went through the same thing. We would all read together for about 15 minutes, then I would dim the lights and have my oldest sit on the floor or in his bed with a book. He knew he had to be quiet but sometimes wasn't...hence the sound machine. I would rock the baby to sleep lay him down then i would have quiet cuddle time with my toddler. More often than not the toddler would fall asleep while he was waited for me to get done putting the baby to sleep. Good Luck!
My son was three when his sister was born. With the exception of the first two weeks with our daughter in the bassinet in our room, they shared a room until last year when my son turned seven.
Bedtime routines were similar with brushing teeth, reading a bedtime story, then kisses, prayers and lights out. We never had a problem. They got used to each other and the nighttime noises they made.
Even when one of them was sick, the other usually slept through. Even two nights of projectile vomiting from the top bunk! Ewwwww.
My two kids (3 years old and 18 months) both share a room and have been since my second was born. Although they don't nap in the same room, they do go to bed in the same room and at the same time. My kids both go down at 8 pm (sometimes a little before). I don't rock them just because I never wanted to have to do it every single night. We cuddle with our 18 month old then put him in his crib. Sometimes he will whine or cry. Then we will lay with our 3 year old for a few minutes and then that is it. Sometimes she iwll whine or cry. I think, though, that since we have had then in the same room, they are use to each other because there are times that my 3 year old will scream (and she is a very loud screamer!)and most of the time my 18 month old will fall asleep.
I think that you should probably put them down and do their routines at the same time in the same room. I think after a few days of it, they will get use to each other.
Good luck!
What if your husband reads to the toddler and you prepare to get the infant ready for bed(diaper chage, pj's ect) in your room or the living room, then as soon as the bedtime story is over and the older is "relaxed" you can go in with the baby and play the music softly and rock her, the toddler may enoy the music too and nod off to sleep. If she is already relaxed the noise of the baby may not bother her as much. Hope you find something that works!! Good luck and remember children are very resilant and usually adapt well and fast!
I'm in the same boat. My husband and I are going to put the crib in our room. It'll make it easier for everyone. That way my son will not have to worry about adjusting to a new baby and giving up his room that was soley his. We will cross that bridge at a later date.
Hi E.!
I believe everything will work out just fine, although I can understand your concern.
I would "practice" with your daughter on reading with your husband then being "quiet" and ready for sleeping. Maybe you could try rocking the baby with music and her room, then laying your baby in the crib after you're done. Maybe that practice will help your toddler get ready for the new room change.
This may change her schedule some, but it sounds like she gets the best deal~having BOTH parents at bedtime :o)
I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Try not to worry too much. I have found that kids can work through anything we parents are positive about. So, try to remain positive and happy about the whole process, and your daughter will go along with it :o)
Good Luck!
:o) N.
