Doing the bedtime routine for two children can be tricky to start with!

As a Nanny, I did it each weekday night for 20 years. And I found it tough at times with one, two or three. It’s completely normal because everyone’s energy has dwindled at the end of the day. You’ll have nights when it rolls smoothly. And nights when it’s totally tricky! It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent (or Nanny!). It’s part of family life logistics.

my top tips to help the bedtime routine roll with two kids:

Give yourself a little extra time. 5 or 10 minutes more can make all the difference between calm or chaos
If any one is bed begging or limping to bedtime (including you!) it’s ok to start the routine earlier. You can always have a quiet potter afterwards when everyone is ready for beddy!
If you’ve got a really young baby:
Try to make sure they’ve had a feed recently
A sling or baby wearing can be a bedtime routine saviour!
Get everything you need together first and put it within easy reach. Towels, Pjs, nappies, creams, comforters/ bed Ted, drinks, dummy and books. EVERYTHING! I used to keep a stash of these things in a basket in the bathroom.
Change yourself into comfy clothes. It can make a big difference especially if you’re in work wear or tight jeans.
If bathing both of them I suggest doing this together if you can. There’s a separate blog for you on that, here.
Try putting their pjs on in the bathroom. I found doing this easier because once out of the bathroom I’d lose control! Doing it here I found them a bit more compliant (not by much granted ) and I didn’t chase them around as much.
Let go of the expectation it’s going to be in exactly the same order every night. You might need to do what works for you on the day and that’s always ok!
And lastly whilst talking about expectations....there’s always one who needs your attention more in any given moment. It’s the way it is with two!