Talk

Forever, possibly longer.

Sorry, that was unnecessarily flippant!

It does take them ages though. An hour I guess. Sometimes I do give up, I admit, and take them back downstairs. Especially if DC1 (school age) is asleep but DC2 (20mo) is howling. DC2 can always catch up on sleep the next day, DC1 needs to be well-rested for school.

Up until around 6 weeks or so, 2.3 yo DD2 would be asleep within minutes. I've no idea what went wrong then. This evening it has taken an hour but has been up to 2. The first few weeks were worst, crying, tantrums, needing me sitting by the cot etc. but at least now she's happy to sit/lie in the cot and chatter or sing to herself until she drops off.

My school aged DC falls asleep in minutes

My 2 year old who usually needs a nap but often resists it fights sleep a lot more. If she doesn't nap she goes very quickly. If she's had a nap no matter how long or how long ago it was she has often taken about an hour of going upstairs, coming back downstairs (if she's too twitchy), intense watching by me for sleepy signs and often a quick stroll in the buggy before finally she goes off.

Has your DS dropped his nap yet?

Gilberte - my DS1 usually still has a nap during the day, for which I'm thankful, as I have a baby, too, and they nap at the same time after lunch.

Too bloody long. It took an hour tonight.

Nearly 6yo dd is asleep in less than a minute. She is impressive. I am the same.

DS is 20mo and it varies. Tonight he's been messing about for an hour so far. It can take minutes or hours with him.

DS1 has always been fab at night time and is asleep within 5 minutes after story and cuddles.

DS2 is 16 months old and still feeds to sleep so is asleep before I leave the room at 7pm (ish) but it takes a loooong bedtime routine of bath, teeth brushing, then a 20 minute feed which he falls asleep during. He does thank God stay asleep til 8am so I can't complain with either of mine.... so far!

dd1 - 6 - instantly sound asleep as soon as we confiscate her reading material for the night.

dd1 - 2.5 - usually messes around with her cuddlies for half an hour or so. last night was an hour but that's unusual. she's ok with me popping in and out though, so I'm not too bothered.

Both my boys fall asleep quite quickly. DS1 has always been a good sleeper and likes his bed. DS2 is a bit of a sleep refusenik - he doesn't like to think he's missing anything exciting. Despite being four years younger than DS1 he tends to go to bed at the same time, meaning he is knackered and falls asleep quickly.

DD (5) about 3 minutes! Like me.

Ds's 7 and 4 are usually asleep within minutes of us saying goodnight.

ds1 and dd1 (both teens) instantly
dd2 (11) about 2 - 2.5 hrs from when bedtime is first instigated.

Depends on if he naps or not! If no nap, DS (2.8) is usually asleep within minutes, but if he naps, he lays chatting for about half an hour before going to sleep.

Dd1, 3.3, is asleep in two minutes as she no longer naps.
Dd2, who is just 2 and still naps, is awake in her cot for a minimum 45 minutes singing and joking before she falls asleep. Sometimes longer!

DD 2 1/2 - Goes down at 7, falls asleep around 9 with a nap during the day. Goes down at 7, asleep by 10 past without a nap. I think it's time to drop the nap!

My dd lies in bed humming or pressing the buttons on her princess torch for up to 15 minutes

My DS1 lies in bed singing or playing for up to an hour. DS2 only has to look at his cot to fall asleep!

Bloody days. Grrr.

Tonight was a bad night to see this thread! After 3 1/2 hours, a walk in the pushchair, a trip in the car, 2 feeds, more singing and jiggling than is humanly possible 7mo has finally dropped off.

I'm off to bed before I have to do it all over again in a couple of hours

dd is 12. She goes up at 9pm. Often still awake at 10pm, sometimes past 10.30pm

DS1 goes to bed at 8pm (he is 9). He has terrible trouble getting to sleep. Usually anywhere between 20 mins (good night) or 2 hours (bad night).

DS2 (3 yrs) is often asleep within 10 mins. Tonight though it took him an hour as he had fallen asleep in the car late afternoon...

DS is 24mo and it can be anything between 10 minutes and an hour. He settles himself though so if he's awake he just babbles/sings to himself until he falls asleep.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv6b0CretuE

Enjoy Samuel L Jackson reading this "alternative" bedtime story for adults(only)