My kids are a few months older than yours, but I'm alone most nights too. I normally make dinner the night before and then when I get home from work with the kids I reheat. They like to eat immediately when coming through the door and then we play. I assume in 2 months your 6 month old will be eating too and it will get harder. We ONLY did baby led weaning. It made it easier than me spoon feeding mush.

At least once a week I grab a sub, put the kids in the wagon and hand the oldest her sub. She eats it on the way to the playground. She plays and I'll feed the baby there.

When DH is gone, the only thing that will let my older DD put the baby to bed is screen time. She gets like 30 min of a show while I nurse the baby to sleep. I've been doing this since the baby was born. I assume later when the baby is 1.5 or so that we can all read books together, but he doesn't have the patience yet and likes quiet while he nurses.

We do bathtime together for 30 min or so. They're thrilled and love it. I have a mat so the baby doesn't fall.

Are you a SAHM or are you coming from work? I was a SAHM with 2yo twins and a newborn and DH worked evenings. I always made dinner during their naptime (I would pretty much always just throw together something in a pan that could be baked closer to dinner). So there was no real meal prep, just put it in the oven at the correct time and then take it out early enough for it to cool off before dinner time. I would nurse the baby while toddlers played then poo her in a baby carrier. Toddlers would set the table with their plastic dishes while I brought over the serving tray with dinner, we’d eat, then I would cover the leftovers and toss all the dishes in the sink with some water to soak.

Toddlers would play in the bath while I nursed the baby again, then baby’s “bath” would be a quick rinse under the running bath faucet. I would stick pull-ups on the twins and let them play naked for a bit while I did lotion/diaper/jammies for the baby, then I’d do the same for the toddlers. I would nurse the baby one more time while reading books to the toddlers as they drank a sippy cup with some warm milk.

After books, toddlers would “help” me put the baby to bed by sitting in the soft chair in her room and singing her lullabye with me as I turned out the lights, swaddled her and put her into a swing. I know you’re not supposed to swaddle in the swing but we only did it for 20 minutes a night and it was needed. Between the swaddle and the swing she was okay for long enough that I could brush toddlers’ teeth and tuck them each into bed, then once they were down I would go back in and get the baby settled properly.

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.

I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.

What time is your bedtime?

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.

I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.

it depends... full cooked meals often are full of preservatives, salt, fat and processed food.

If you eat less processed foods it's better fro children. Besides, they 4 month old is not eating a full cooked meal. The 2 year old does not need a full cooked meal... hello obesity.

My kids are older and I still could never get a chicken baked for dinner, lol.

22:44 has it down. That first year is rough, do what you need. We would get home from work/daycare at 5:45, heat something in the microwave or frozen pizza, or sandwiches to eat at 6, play for half an hour and then start trying to get the baby down. My older one got a show and then his bedtime would start. Ideally both parents were home but if not, you do what you can.

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.

I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.

Well you are super parent. Most of us are not and you routine while sounds great, would not be realistic.

I have four and my oldest two are 10&11 now, but one thing I remember from when they were really tiny is that at some point I realized that I could bring the bouncy seat and pajamas into the bathroom with me. So I could put the older kid in the bath, I’ve the van a little sponge bath, and emerge from the bathroom with pajamas on, teeth brushed, hair combed, and ready for bed.

I also remember that I used to wear the baby so I could nurse one handed. That way we could all three eat at the same time

It does get easier. Focus on making sure the bedtime routine for the baby is regular and that he/ she goes down pretty easy and that gives you more flexibility.

Observe what parts of the evening work for you and what parts don't. I remember once the baby could sit up, I had one of those seats in the bathtub and would bathe both at the same time. They loved it so I sat by the bathtub reading a book while they splashed and had fun. It was super relaxing for me and a bit of a rejuvenating boost. I wasn't more than an arm's reach away but it made the evenings better for all of us.

I also told my husband that if he wasn't home by 5 or 5:30, we weren't waiting on him for dinner. If I pushed out dinner time, things just went south fast and it wasn't worth it for a while.

And be careful about always putting the baby's needs first. If you put the baby down and you are in the middle of reading a book to your toddler and the baby fusses, maybe you just finish the book and let the baby fuss for a few minutes. I found my toddler had a harder time going down if I couldn't focus on her, too.

But seriously, this all gets WAY easier!! We had four under five and it was crazy at times but even we got all four in a good rhythm eventually.

I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.

I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.

22:44 has got it down. We had turkey sandwiches and frozen green beans so often the first year of having two kids.

It gets better.

You lower the bar significantly, OP. My two kids are 28 months apart, and are now ages 2.5 and 5. It gets a LOT easier, even though new challenges arise!

My tips:
--Eat sandwiches or cheese/crackers/fruit for dinner instead of fully cooked meals

--Avoid the crazy bath/chase around upstairs to get ready for bed routine

--Instead, we give baths earlier, every other night unless needed, and then I bring the toddler down for a 20-minute show before bed -- this provides a more chill transition and also gives us leverage (no show if he doesn't cooperate for bath time)

--Depending on the temperaments of your kids, lower your expectations of getting any chores done during the day

Try and prepare meals in advance as much as possible. I have two kids, one 2 and the other 8 months and weekends are the hardest. Evenings we can fill with park, meals, bath, bedtime routine, sleep. I found that having the meals ready ahead of time makes a huge difference.

NP. I have a baby and older DS and I am often alone with them. It’s not easy to keep everyone happy and fed and in bed on time.

I hope you're not the only adult in the house at that time, OP. Then it's one-on-one, and it becomes perfectly manageable. Otherwise, can you wear your infant while you prepare the toddler for bed?

Moms with an infant & older kid(s) - HOW do you manage your evenings? I have a 4 month old & 2 year old and our evenings always seem hard. How do you manage doing dinner, bedtime routines, etc? It seems impossible to tend to everyone at the same time ?