Holiday bed times

[TooManyDaisies]

We're in France in a gite - about 20 other families here either in gites or camping. Most with young children.

Our children are a baby and 5 year old.

In our normal life they're both in bed asleep by 7pm. On holiday they're both in bed asleep by 7pm! If they stay up later they still wake by 6.30am and are then cranky all day...

All the other small children are up till at least 9pm here. As I said, there aren't that many families so we've got to know the other children. Must point out that my 5 yr old like going to bed and hasn't asked to stay up later - it's just I've had a few comments about being a big mean because "she's on holiday too."

What do other parents do? Aibu not letting them stay up later (the 5 year old really, not the baby)?

Have to say, when we're sitting outside with out books and cold drinks at 7pm with both children soundly asleep it is bliss!

[alarkaspree]

You're not being unreasonable, it makes no difference to anyone outside your family. They are not being unreasonable either in letting their children stay up later - no doubt they are having fun. I would be with them, I find it hard to motivate myself to get my children into bed if they are enjoying themselves and not bothering me.

They are unreasonable and rude to call you mean though, you're not mean, your dd isn't sad, and it's none of their business.

[Sunnydelight]

Presumably the people who think you are mean aren't volunteering to come round yours at 6.30am to entertain her or deal with her when she's cranky!

When our kids were little and we went on holiday to France generally the kids had normal bedtime and that was our cue to sit outside in the warmth, eat stinky cheese and drink lots of chilled rose. Sometimes we would take them out to dinner so they would be later, but often it was nicer to go out to lunch then chill at home in the evening after the kids were in bed. Enjoy it while you can - our eldest is now 19 so it's often easier for us to go to bed first if we want adult time!

[TooManyDaisies]

Thanks for your replies

To be clear, no-one is saying I'm mean in a nasty way, just a jokey way. I haven't at all taken offence. I'm just curious as to what other people do? It's 8am and I can see/hear other children up and about. Maybe they need less sleep? Maybe they're having siestas? I'll ask some other parents here!

[Mayisout]

We went on holiday with other families. AAaaarrrgh. I expected later bedtimes but not later as in the same time as parents. And kids in shared bedrooms woke each other up in the morning. ........nightmare.

Never do this unless you know the other families intimately!

[OneOfMyTurnsComingOn]

My DD is 8 and still goes to bed and asleep by 7pm-7.15pm even in school hols. It's hard when she can hear much younger neighbouring kids still playing out gone 8pm, but like yours she is ratty as hell the next day otherwise.

Maybe I'm mean too

[KellyElly]

I think some people are lucky with their kids. My DD is nearly three and is in bed by 6.30/7 most nights, but if she does very rarely stay up late she sleeps in. The latest she ever stayed up was until 10pm on Jubilee weekend and I had to wake her up at 11am the next day. I think if your kids wake up at the same time YANBU to keep their bedtimes the same. The only other option is a short daytime nap but that probably only works for slightly older children if you are abroad in the heat.

[helenthemadex]

I'm lucky with my dd's if they are up late they sleep late or will have a nap in the day

You know your child best so dont worry what anyone else says

[TangoSierra]

Mine would stay up.

If you are in France, the french woouldn't have even started their evening meal at 7pm

Relax, if your dc are grumpy the next day, they will want to go to bed early.

[autumnmum]

My two never sleep in regardless of what time they go to bed. We've just come back from France and both were in bed by 8.30pm at the very latest. They are 4 and 7 and I can't function as a parent unless I have at least 2 hours in the evening without being asked endless questions! Works fine for us so who cares what anybody else thinks.

[insanityscratching]

I'm really envious dd can stay up really late, dh doesn't mind but it gets on my nerves even if she does stay in bed the next morning. I'd prefer to have the evening to myself rather than a late start particularly because I get up early regardless.