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Original poster

6 year olds and bedtime

27 replies

Worrywoofandrepeat · 09/09/2021 20:32

Hi, just intrigued as to what time your 6 year olds roughly fall asleep at night. I thought with being back at school things would move to an earlier bedtime but for the past week she is really struggling to get to sleep and it’s been gone 8.30 each day. I’m worrying she isn’t getting anywhere near enough sleep! I thought 6 year olds should be asleep by more like 7.30!

OP posts:
FfrothiCoffi · 09/09/2021 20:34

My 8 and 6 year olds are in bed for 8 and read until 8.30. Up at 7.30ish so 11 hours seems plenty? They’re not tired in the day.

Simonjt · 09/09/2021 20:36

My son is usually asleep by 7:15, sometimes he’ll be gone by about 6:45.

Is she wasn’t sleeping enough you’d know, just like adults children need differing amounts of sleep.

Original poster
Worrywoofandrepeat · 09/09/2021 20:36

Fair enough! perhaps I’m unrealistic! Wake up time for us varies but I suppose if she gets 10.5-11 most nights, perhaps it’s more the realisation I don’t feel like I am getting so much of an evening!

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DelurkingAJ · 09/09/2021 20:37

DS2 (5) is a night owl. He’s beautifully tucked up in bed every night by 8 and stays there but if often still awake at 9. He then wakes about 7. Last night he was still chattering to himself at 10. I did have to wake him this morning as a result. DS1 (8) is usually out like a light at 8 but then awake by 6. If he isn’t struggling then don’t fret, different DC need different amounts of sleep!

Evesgarden · 09/09/2021 20:37

That would be too early for my five year old.

I set the Alexa to go off at 7;30pm and it says ''dd is time to go to bed' Then I tell Alexa dd is allowed 5 more minutes. Then we go upstairs, do teeth, wee then get in bed for a story - maybe two. then we have a chat about what she has done in the day. Then we cuddle then I go down stairs. If this routine breaks in anyway she is faffing about.

This takes us to 8.30pm. Ive just come down and she is out for the night now.

She gets up at 7 -7.15am and is fine.

FfrothiCoffi · 09/09/2021 20:38

Yeah, that happens as they get older! Mine used to be fast asleep for 7 and it was bliss Grin. Now if they go to sleep at 7 they’re up at 6 so 11 hours must be about right for them.

Magicstars · 09/09/2021 20:39

My Ds 6, can happily keep going until 8:45pm, despite my best efforts. He’s typically then up 7/7:30am & full of beans. Occasionally he’ll sleep earlier in the eve or later in the morning but not often.

Freetodowhatiwant · 09/09/2021 20:40

My 6yo has an older sibling so it's hard to get them to bed most nights before 9pm and so not sleeping until gone 9.30pm. They wake at 7.30am so usually have ten hours. It's been a lot later than this over the school holidays. Now we are back at school and it's getting darker I would like to get them both to sleep around 9pm if not before but I would definitely take 9pm. I don't really have much of an evening after they go to bed! But I am a single parent and usually stay in bed and read on my phone rather than come downstairs. I DO have nights without them to go out and have fun though.

Legomania · 09/09/2021 20:41

We've aimed for 8pm for a 7am wake-up for a few years now, but it's often more like 9.30 before he falls asleep. Tbh I've stopped stressing, as he gets up without any problem and seems to be alert for school.

MistyFrequencies · 09/09/2021 20:43

My 5 year old goes to sleep at 9pm.

Crunchymum · 09/09/2021 20:44

My 6yo goes to bed at 9pm but rarely ever falls asleep immediately. Only deviation with this is if she is ill.

I've tried everything over the years to get her down earlier but nothing ever worked.

I have an 8yo and a 3yo too and neither of them to to bed much before 9pm either.

I expect full time preschool to have the toddler in bed earlier. Although her year in nursery didn’t make much difference to the time she went to sleep Shock

Original poster
Worrywoofandrepeat · 09/09/2021 20:44

Ah ok, thank you everyone, perhaps a reality check is needed! Probably boils down to the fact I can’t relax until she is asleep! I will have to learn to I guess. We have a 9 month old puppy too so she is usually barking and being a typical puppy! So it’s the stress of trying to keep her quiet too! Wine is needed!

OP posts:
badlydrawnbear · 09/09/2021 21:16

My 6 year old tends to get into bed after having her story at about 8pm, sometimes later if DH procrastinates about reading a story. I then have to sit there in the chair next to her until she falls asleep, usually after 9pm. She has to be up at 7.15am on a school day.

Findahouse21 · 09/09/2021 21:20

Bedtime is 7:45 followed by stories. She's then allowed to listen to alexa for a few mins. Probably asleep by 8:30 most nights, alarm is set for 7 but sometimes she wakes before it goes off

HarrisMcCoo · 09/09/2021 21:21

6yo asleep by 7pm most nights

NavigatingAdolescence · 09/09/2021 21:25

My DD is almost 11 and has only ever been asleep at 7pm if unwell. (Slept midnight till noon as a baby.). At 6 bedtime would have been around 8:30/8:45pm and asleep by 9/9:15pm.

She’s extremely bright and happy.

SkinnyMirror · 09/09/2021 21:29

We aim for bed at 8.30 but it's often later as he's just not tired.
Usually wakes around 7.30 but can be later so needs waking for school.

Never seems tired and doesn't have issues at school.

WhatsTheTimeMrCat · 09/09/2021 21:33

When does she wake and does she seem tired? I mean, is it that you want more evening for yourself or is it that you think she’s not getting enough sleep?

My DC is literally just six and he sleeps from around 1930-2000 depending on the evening until 0645-0715. His wake up time does not change based on his bedtime so late nights tend to lead to him being exhausted - it’s rare for him to sleep in. But all kids are different…

ParkheadParadise · 09/09/2021 21:33

Dd goes up at 7.30
She's always asleep for 8.
Up at 7 in the morning.

WhatsTheTimeMrCat · 09/09/2021 21:34

I should have said we go up between 1915 and 1930. Depends on the evening but he is actually asleep about 20-30 minutes after we go up.

bubblebubblebubbletrouble · 09/09/2021 21:35

My 6 year old is like the duracell bunny - and takes forever to run out of energy but is less than keen at getting up in the morning for breakfast club.
I aim for upstairs between 7/7:30 depending on shower/hair wash requirements and into bed by 8:30 & lights out at 9 and make it +/- 10 mins most nights.
Strangely dd1 who is 10 needs her sleep so since they are still sharing they go together & occasionally oldest uses her lamp to read for longer.

InDubiousBattle · 09/09/2021 21:36

My 6&7year olds go to bedat around 8. We go up at 7.45 and they get 15 minutes of stories, they're allowed to read for a bit after that if they want. They get up between 7-7.30.

MuMmaOf3littles · 09/09/2021 21:49

@Evesgarden

That would be too early for my five year old.

I set the Alexa to go off at 7;30pm and it says ''dd is time to go to bed' Then I tell Alexa dd is allowed 5 more minutes. Then we go upstairs, do teeth, wee then get in bed for a story - maybe two. then we have a chat about what she has done in the day. Then we cuddle then I go down stairs. If this routine breaks in anyway she is faffing about.

This takes us to 8.30pm. Ive just come down and she is out for the night now.

She gets up at 7 -7.15am and is fine.

Hope you don't mind me jumping on your reply. I'm just wondering how you get Alexa to say "DD is time to go to bed"? This would fab for my DS.
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 09/09/2021 21:55

DD1 could faff for England. She goes up around 7.15 but then getting undressed, shower, PJs, and a chapter of her book takes us to 8. She is then meant to brush her teeth and go to bed straight away but it's often 8.30 before she does.

SaveWaterDrinkGin · 09/09/2021 21:57

My 6 year old is sleeping roughly 7-7 at the moment. We debated pushing her bedtime back a bit but she’s shattered from school. I can’t imagine her going to be bed at 8pm on a school night. But all children are different.