BabyWhispererForums.com
ACTIVITY => Activity Time & Toddler Activity => Topic started by: Jodes112 on October 25, 2013, 09:21:13 am
-
Hi,
Was not sure where to put this! Hope this is ok.
I have a question around bathtime. Its a struggle/stress every evening for me, even more so when OH is at work and im doing it alone.
I just wondered if anyone has any tips on how to make bathtime easier with 2 kiddies?
What i normally do is bath them separately as i dont like leaving one in the bath while im getting the other out. I have tried getting dd out first (7mo) and actually getting her dressed into pj's on towel on bathroom carpet but when she is dressed she is very ready to go downstairs and have her bottle and doesnt then want to wait to get ds out & dry (3yo) I also still dont like taking my eyes off ds for a second so am trying to keep eyes on him at same time dress dd! Other option to get ds out first and dressed in the bathroom, he is happy once his pj's are on to wait & help me out witb ds but again i dont like taking my eyes off ds in the bath even though she is in a bath chair.
Seperately i bath ds first, but this means dd is scrambling up my legs whining as she is tired & ready for bath bottle & bed. I tey to give her toys in the bathroom but as she is tired she just wants me to get her. Then i feel sorry for ds as he isnt enjoying the bath then!
They both go to bed at 7pm & i start ds in bath at 6.20 & then dd after at around 6.40.
Is there any way of making this easier on myself or is this it until they are a little older? When OH is there he will bath ds while i entertain dd so its much easier but he does work late at times & this is when i struggle.
Any advice on how to tweak bathtime to make it easier? How do you do it? Thanks x
-
This is what we do if I have to bath both of mine by myself, if it helps..
6.00ish we all go into DS's room to get undressed. I undress DS down to his nappy, then run the bath while I help DD undress. I also get DD to help by carrying towels through to the bathroom etc.
Both are in the bath by 6.10 and we do teeth in the bath. I get them both out by 6.20ish. Back into DS's room. I dry off DS and get his nappy on, then dry DD. While DD gets her PJs, chooses her book for bedtime and her toys for her bed I dress DS. This obviously involves DD doing a lot by herself though. She's in and out of the room though so basically I'm giving her little jobs to do which all help for bedtime. When DS is ready I put him in his cot with a few toys to play while I get his bottle and help DD do her last bits. Would your DD play in the cot for 10 minutes at this time? If not, could you dress them both together (pj top for DS, then it's DD's turn for her vest, then DS's pj bottoms etc?) and then just spend 5 minutes doing the last bits for DS while DD plays? Or just bring her with you?
By 6.45 I'm doing DS's bottle anyway. DD chills in her room with books while I do this but if she gets bored I let her sit on the floor of DS's room and listen while I read DS a story. She's only allowed to stay if she stays quiet! She understands that DS needs quiet before bed. For the last couple of minutes she has to go into her room and wait on her bed with toys or books while I sing to DS and actually put him to bed as 6.55ish. Then I go into her, read her stories and turn off the light. She's normally in bed by 7.10.
The only difficult bit is if DS won't settle. If I can possibly leave him (he's doing a mantra cry) I do until I can get DD in bed. Otherwise I guess I'd try and settle DS and sort of go between the two of them until I'd got DD in bed. I just have to be firm with DD and tell her i can't hang around sometimes cos DS is upset but promise to come and check on her once DS is settled.
Hope that helps?
-
Thankyou for posting! And i have never thought of sitting her in the cot while i get ds sorted i am def going to give that i try!
I think tonight i will get them bothe in & out together get dd pj'd and then sit her in the cot for 10 while i sort ds. Thanks! If i leave her on the floor she ends up crying climbing up my legs.
Will give it a try. Anything to make it a little easier! X
-
Will give it a try. Anything to make it a little easier! X
Definitely! Jack's used to it now and even if he's in a grumpy mood will play in there for a few minutes before he gets fed up. Then I just rotate toys or at worst get him out but at least we've had a good 5 minutes to get everything else's sorted by then! He's normally fine for longer though cos it's just become part of our routine (I do it anyway on the days I have help, just to get the bottle sorted and put away a couple of toys if I have time!)
Good luck!
-
I bath all three together now (by myself every night!) and I always go in order of youngest to oldest to get ready...now granted two of mine are older but DD2 has special needs and still needs careful watching and a lot of assistance (still in diapers at night and needs help dressing). My best advice is the prep ahead of time...I have all towels, pj's, creams etc out and ready in the bathroom. We have a teeny bathroom so no issue with taking my eyes off anyone! DD3 does sometimes fuss and cry once she is dressed, as she knows a feed is due but we just carry on as quick as we can. Thank goodness DD1 is getting her hair completely chopped in a pixie cut so I will have one less thing to deal with!
If she isnt a fan of the time in her cot do you have a bouncer or something she could sit in and watch while you get DS ready? I used to use an exersaucer to amuse DD1 while I showered!
-
Wow 3 to contend with, on your own! Bet that is hectic!
I agree that its good to be organised which i try to be. She does have an exersaucer but is not keen as she is restricted & cant move (only around in a circle lol she wants to be free to roam) & especially at that time she is not very patient. Will try cot tonight if no luck will try exersaucer tomorow!
I just feel a massive releif when there in bed as the last hour of the day is so hectic & rushing around ant hear myself think as they both want my attention at the same time!
-
Yes I breath a sigh of relief once they are all down for the count! I never really intended to bathe them all together but little E loves the bath so much it is an easy way to distract her while the other kids are in it anyways. At first it was mass chaos but now we are a well oiled machine!