school night bedtimes for 8 and 9yr old? 7:30 - 8:00 ok?

[megletthesecond]

I can't decide where we're going with bedtimes these days . 9yr old ds tends to fanny around getting ready for bed but once he's there is happy to read for a bit and sleeps well so I'd like him settled around 8pm.

8yr old dd is a horrific sleeper and I've decided to bring her winding down time forward to 7pm in the hope she's settled by 7:45.

Is this mean and too babyish for them? I work 3 days a week so need them to be on the ball in the morning. I think a dreadful summer of mucking around and dd slipping towards 10:30 bedtimes has thrown me and I don't know how far to rein it back in.

Obviously no DH around to share things with and I've only had one night off in 2 years so my brain is mush. Hence me trying to get a bit bootcamp on them, they're certainly happier with early nights but I don't know if I'm too strict.

I've whittered on a bit. Thanks for getting this far.

[FlopIsMyParentingGuru]

8 year old DS still goes up around 7 but listens to an audio cd so most likely goes to sleep by 8 most days. It gives me space to settle his sister and gives him a bit of down time.

[TeacupDrama]

I would say they need about 9.5-10 hour sleep max so if they have to be up by 6am , 8pm with lights out by 8.30 is fine but I don't think you can expect a 9 year old to go to bed at 7,30 and sleep till 7
my DD is just 7 and goes to bed about 8,30 -8.45 but straight to sleep after i've read a story and sleeps to about 6.45-7 so she gets 10 hours she goes to bed a 9 at weekends

[Passthecake30]

My 8 year old sleeps 8.30-7am on a school day, later at the weekend, but still about 10.5 hrs sleep.

[Artandco]

Yes depends on when you want them awake. At 8 -9 years they only need 10-10.30 hrs per night.
So 7.30pm would be 5.30-6am awake potentially

I would aim for both in bed by 8.30pm with you finished reading to them by then and can read alone until 9pm if they want or go straight to sleep.

9-7.30am is 10 1/2 hrs. 8.30-7.30am would be 11

[megletthesecond]

To clarify, I don't expect 9yo ds to have lights out and sleep at 8pm. More than he just needs to be in pj's and reading. He also needs quiet time with me.

His younger sister is the one with sleep problems (5 years of misery) which is why I'm thinking we need to be earlier for a while.

Maybe a 7:30 wind down is better then. I suppose I need some time for housework once they're in bed and I know it's a bit selfish but I'd like to watch TV for an hour or so at 9 or 10pm. They rarely let me do it at the moment. They know they can run amok and keep going until late until I'm shattered. (Oh, we're a happy home these days ).

[Passthecake30]

Why don't you do the housework while they are up, do the kitchen/front room while they are doing their homework or something, put washing away while they are getting ready for bed etc. Then watch something with them at 8-8.30 (cooking shows or renovation shows go down well here, not too stimulating) and then they can read until 9? It sounds so boring and a waste of time "winding down" for so long every night, is it really necessary?

[SharonfromEON]

My 9 year old bedtime between 8 and 8.30 but yes unless at cubs or elsewhere he reads if not at activities... not selfish at all by the way it will change but tough doing it on your own with no suuport.

I would add at 8 and 9 they can help with some jobs too