We have had the same bedtime routine for five years now.
Bath. Jammies. Brush teeth. Read books. Sing songs. Bed.
Since Livy was born, Jeremy has been doing bedtime with the big kids while I snuggle the baby. In fact, I've always taken the baby while Jeremy does the older kid. This is mostly true because our babies nursed to sleep for a long time. Nowadays, Ivy and Jamey each get to pick out a book to read, and I doubt Jeremy sings to them.
These are the books I've been reading. I have them all memorized. It's handy for when we travel: I don't have to bring them along. I can just recite them.
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Hush Little Baby
You are my Sunshine
I Love you Baby: I only sing the first chorus of this song. And instead of Conrad, I say "baby" or "kiddos" or the name of whomever I'm singing to.
I think it's fun. I like the routine as much as the kids do.
We sing songs - here was last night's
ReplyDelete"Go to sleep kiddo
Roll over and shut your eyes
Stop kicking the bottom of your sister's bed
Stop playing with your dolls
I'm sorry you've had a nightmare in the 30 seconds you've been in bed
You too, same nightmare, it's hard, I know."
And then all three of us go to sleep.