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Original poster

At what ages do kids stop endlessly fucking about at bathtime/bedtime??

62 replies

BotBotticelli · 14/08/2021 23:40

I have 6 and almost 9yo boys. The pissing about at the end of the day is off the scale. Will this ever end?!?

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 19/08/2021 07:18

@MindyStClaire

I opened this thread hoping the answer was going to be 4 or 5
I was hoping the same. Although based on overhearing my neighbours children (oldest is 9) I suspected I was being a little unrealistic... ConfusedGrin
Dentistlakes · 19/08/2021 07:23

@TyneTeas

I have an older teen.

Can't get them into the shower, then can't get them outHmm

I was going to say the same! What is it with the resistance to washing? So tedious!

In our house it stopped around 10/11, but sadly it’s just replaced by different problems.

Ragwort · 19/08/2021 07:27

Why would it bother you what time your DH goes to bed, surely you don't supervise his Bath and teeth cleaning Hmm? Don't most adults go to bed at whatever time they want ? I can't imagine discussing what time to go to bed with my DH, we are not necessarily tired at the same time and we both need time alone to unwind and do our own thing. I love faffing around at bedtime!

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9 year olds
SwanShaped · 19/08/2021 07:33

What consequences do people put in place for bedtime shenanigans. NONE of them work at my house. I’ve tried no tv, no stories, put themselves to bed etc. It doesn’t work. Just dicking around and hyper hyper hyper.

Oblomov21 · 19/08/2021 07:34

Mine never did. I never let them.

What are you planning on doing about it?

robotcollision · 19/08/2021 07:51

@FoofOfTheWalkingDead

DH is sitting here faffing about on YouTube after we agreed to go up to bed. He's 51🤣
Grin Grin Grin
PlanDeRaccordement · 19/08/2021 07:53

Time to switch to evening showers imho. They’re a bit old to be playing in bath tub.

MinnieMountain · 19/08/2021 07:54

We have set times for things to have happened by, ending with being read to (he’s 7). Less story time if he mucks around seems to work most days.

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 19/08/2021 07:58

Some time after 15 years old

Endless arguing about the need to have a shower and then a battle to get them out once they’re actually in there.

dworky · 19/08/2021 08:00

I would separate them. The 6yr old should be going to bed before the 9yr old, surely?

icedcoffees · 19/08/2021 08:27

Surely the 6yo should be in bed asleep by the time the 9yo is getting ready for bed?

Split them up. One parent goes upstairs to sort the youngest - the 9yo can stay downstairs and watch TV or do homework or play video games or whatever he wants to do. Once 6yo is asleep then sort the 9yo.

Divide and conquer Wink

TobysGreatAunt · 19/08/2021 08:30

About 21 🤣

AppleKatie · 19/08/2021 08:32

Divide and conquer.

Strict regime- that has built in ‘what ifs’ for days that bedtime is unavoidably delayed.

Never waver- as In literally never.

Mine don’t piss about at bedtime beyond babyhood. Maybe I got lucky. Maybe it’s a bit of both.

Apeirogon · 19/08/2021 08:34

Mine were terrible sleepers as babies, so when they were all old enough to sleep through the night I was so happy that I didn't care about the dicking around at bedtime! Honestly the gratitude lasted for years Smile

CornishGem1975 · 19/08/2021 08:35

15 here and no sign of it ever ending.

Stormyequine · 19/08/2021 08:39

My 13 year old was told to go up for a shower at 9.30 last night, finally went at 10.20 after some epic faffing! Not sure it ever ends, they just eventually get old enough to sort out their own bed time!

LittleOverWhelmed · 19/08/2021 08:40

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

gogohm · 19/08/2021 08:43

When you make it their responsibility. From about 8 mine showered in the morning, one was a dream the other obviously has the wicked witch of the west as a relative as she has extreme aversion to water based activities (bath time was no different when she was tiny) but she is autistic so quirks come with the territory

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 19/08/2021 08:43

Bathrooms are brightly lit, then the landing lights are on, then the bedroom lights are on...so they've been bombarded with bright lights just at the point where they should be in a simulated dusk to dark.

I really can't have any lights on upstairs or I'll ping back awake for another 4 hours - I'm (allegedly) a grown up who wants to go to bed and sleep.

I spend some time every so often pointing out to DP that if he wants to go to sleep early, he really needs to not have upstairs lit up with the light of a thousand suns. Especially as it then screws me over from having to walk up there and be woken up just as I was at the point of being able to drop off easily.

BeaBeaBuzz · 19/08/2021 08:43

Would be good to see your routine to suggest ways to help? Mine are 4 and 10 but don’t dick about at bedtime really, some protestations from 4yo but certainly not ‘hyper’

TheMoth · 19/08/2021 08:55

Dh needs to see this. He thinks our kids are the only kids in the world who are averse to water and teeth cleaning.
They have been showering alone since about age 8, but it's getting them in there that's the battle. And washing faces. I've threatened a spit wash on many an occasion.
He is very fastidious wrt washing, whereas I remember being a right scruffy bugger until I was about 12.

OutOfTrousers · 19/08/2021 08:59

What consequences do people put in place for bedtime shenanigans. NONE of them work at my house. I’ve tried no tv, no stories, put themselves to bed etc. It doesn’t work. Just dicking around and hyper hyper hyper.

We have a chart stuck in the wall; reading, homework etc. They have to have a certain number of points to get screen time at the weekend. They read to us once they’re in bed and then we read to them. If they’re not in bed by bedtime, then they lose their story and therefore their reading to us time and therefore their weekend screen time.
I also don’t discuss it with them. I tell them what time it is and ask them to get ready for bed. I might remind them that they have 10 or 15 minutes left if I look at the clock at the right time. Apart from that it’s their responsibility to be ready for bed.

SwanShaped · 19/08/2021 12:36

I’ve tried that trousers. It worked for a bit and then didn’t any more. I’ve tried no screen time. Ive tried no stories. I’ve tried ignoring him. I don’t engage with the hyper. But as soon as I say it’s bedtime, he’s start running round in circles squealing. He’s nearly 6! I’ve tried properly losing my shit until he cries. None of it seems to make any difference. We don’t do any fun games at bedtime either so I don’t hype him up. It’s all very calm. It’s bloody annoying though and I dread bedtimes. I’ve also tried explaining it all, talking about how nice it would be to have a good bedtime and stories rather than a shouty one. I’ve also tried asking for teamwork. I’ve also tried stopping tv a lot earlier and doing calm games. I’ve tried dancing around getting the last of the energy out. None of it works! I’m just wondering if there’s some magic trick I’ve missed to get him to behave.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 19/08/2021 12:40

@PluggingAway

My DH is nearly 40 and still dicks about for ages when we're locking up and heading to bed.

There is no hope.

I see your DH and I raise you... My DH is 58 and 3/4 and he makes a Shakesperian performance of it every night. Actually getting into bed requires much pillow bashing and accompanying noises Grin
megletthesecond · 19/08/2021 12:43

Never. My 14 and almost 13yr old keep me up until almost midnight faffing around and asking me things. I'm so much more tired than when they were little. I'd love to be stricter but I don't have the energy and need to sleep to be up for work, I hate school hols.

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