3 Year Old Bed Time routine?? weird or OK?

[Tiddlypoo8]

Hi there
We have a very happy healthy dd who's just turned 3. She is our only child and we've always had a good routine for her.
She is a very active hyperactive little one who never takes a daytime nap or stops to relax, and consequently she's absolutely popped by 4.30.

At 5 pm ish usually she requests to go to her room and sit quietly on her bed and watch a did, or play a little bit in her room- I didn't know if this was normal for a toddler to want to go up in their room so early, but it be followed her lead and make sure she's in her pjs before 5pm.
She'll watch a did in her room before and until her proposed bedtime at 6.30 pm then we turn it off and she goes to sleep after a story.

I hear a lot of other toddlers her age going to bed a lot later, but she seems to like this routine of chilling out in her room, and didn't want to stop it if it's something she likes doing and helps her wind down (she is very easily over stimulated by things)

Are there any thoughts on this routine??

She's asleep by 7 and wakes at 7-8 next morning happy as ever,refreshed and ready to attend nursery 3 times a week for 5 hour sessions at a time. Do you think this is weird behaviour, or should I just follow her lead. Just feels weird her being up there so early, but she's happy! I don't know!,

[katienana]

It sounds awesome! I bet by 5pm you are ready for a break too. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[OlafLovesAnna]

Sounds awesome - if she's happy leave her be I say.

My 3 yr old gets picked up from the childminder about 4.45 ( having been there since 7.30am) has her tea straight away then lies on the sofa until about 6.30 when its a quick bath then bed for 7ish.

[Tiddlypoo8]

Bless you for saying so?
I'd feel guilty if I said she had to go up at 5 but she chooses to- I just feel guilty that it's something I do wrong within our daily routine that makes her want to go up earlier that what is classed as 'normal'

[KP86]

Whatever works for you and your family! That sounds like a dream to me.

If child and parents are happy, somebody's doing something right.

[Tiddlypoo8]

Cool thanks everyone :-)

[Summerdiamond]

I have 1 daughter also, she's 9 now & still likes her quiet time! I think it's great & we are lucky

[SpaggyBollocks]

I'm jealous.

tell me she wakes up hideously early??

[SpaggyBollocks]

nope. just re-read the op properly. she wakes up at a civilised hour. siiiigh.

[willconcern]

I think the ability to chill out by yourself is one of life's great skills. Leave her be I say

[Tiddlypoo8]

So I'm not doing anything wrong as a parent? I'm doing ok?
Bathing her before 5pm so she can 'chill out' in her pjs before bed is ok?

[Tiddlypoo8]

So I'm not doing anything wrong as a parent? I'm doing ok?
Bathing her before 5pm so she can 'chill out' in her pjs before bed is ok?

[Serendipitystardust1]

My 3 year old DS is exactly the same. He's usually had dinner and is bathed and in his pj's by 5 - he has about an hour of quiet time (looking at books or watching tv), 2 stories at 6 and then into bed and is asleep by 6.30 at the latest. He wakes up between 7.30 and 8 raring to go. My 5 year old is only just starting to get out of this routine and that's mainly because she does bits of school work after her bath. I think it's a great routine.

[Tiddlypoo8]

Yay- I am
Normal then.
I guess we're lucky after reading some comments- I thought I was doing something wrong :-o

[Ferguson]

As I have often said before: children DO NOT come with an instruction book, and while there routines that 'average' children will respond to, there is a very wide range of other routines that suite some families better.

Much more common, are the children who won't go to sleep until 9pm, 10pm or later; then wake every two or three hours.

(Probably, I shouldn't 'tell tales', but if you Search for Taler and read of her experiences you will find something very different.)

[threelittlerapscallions]

My 4 year old DD in Reception is 'not tired' until at least 8.30pm, nearly 3 year old DD2 will jump around like a lunatic on the sofa until she is eventually tired around 8, my 6 month old DS is the only calm one (so far but then so was DD1 at that age) - at least none of them wake at night (usually). You are lucky!!

[waitingforsomething]

My 3 year old goes to bed at 6.30- sometimes 6 if she's knackered. She's also really tired by 5pm and she watches peppa then or does something like a jigsaw often in her pjs. Sounds good to me

[twirlypoo]

Ds is nearly 4 and exactly the same - he goes up somewhere between 430(!!!) and 6 every day. He wakes between 6 and 7 (today was 750 after a 5pm lights out yesterday) he is knackered with school and no nap, I figure it's okay so long as I take his lead. Enjoy!

[Tiddlypoo8]

Thanks- Its nice to hear all the different routines, and the reassurance- I'll enjoy it! X

[Bumpsadaisie]

it sounds like a dream! Encourage!

My two are night owls and get a new lease of life from about 5pm ...

[spaceyboo]

My nearly 4 yo neice does this. Bed by 7-8 after quiet time when it's a school night. Like your DS my neice is active never sits still so I think she's using up all her energy.

[Mrsmulder]

Sounds fine to me if it works for you. We have a quiet time after lunch and then ds goes to bed about 7. Just sounds like your dd has her quiet time later and just before bed. Wish my ds would sleep till 7 though!