Single parents bedtime with 2

I really don’t have the answer but I’m very interested to see what people say. I have an almost 4yr old and an 8 month old that will only fall asleep on the boob. At bedtime all they want to do is play and rile each other up and I cannot separate them without MAJOR tears. I’ve resorted to giving toddler his tablet once or twice recently until I can get baby to sleep but I’m sure there must be another way 🫠

Could you put their bed/cot in the same room? X

I had a queen floor bed for my toddler and me and the baby would get in that I would rock the baby on side and pat the toddler on the other … he didn’t go down quick and sometimes we all ended up asleep but eventually he went quicker and the baby would fall asleep so then would leave her in the bed for a while with the Camera on so I could do some jobs

How would it work if they were in the same room? I only have one child so take my advice with a pinch of salt. But if each cries when you leave to go to the other, maybe that's the solution. Tbh my 4yo still sleeps in my room but if I am not there in the room with her she is restless and doesn't sleep as well. Are they comforted by you simply being there and not interacting? Sometimes I just sit in the corner of the room and read a book or watch TikTok with my headphones in if my daughter won't sleep, before I go and get on with my evening. Like you I REALLY value my evening "me time" so totally understand

Sometimes I tell my toddler a story while I'm walking around with her baby brother. Just make it up as I go along and it doesn't bother the baby as long as I'm walking around