"Checking in" with the kids before I go to sleep.

[gemloving]

I don't even know if this is unusual but I just went upstairs to get ready for bed but I check on the kids every time before I go to sleep. It's become such an embedded routine that I find it hard to settle if I didn't or if I forgot, I'd lie there, get up and check on them, then I can go to sleep peacefully as if I know everything is ok.

My eldest gets a couple of kisses and I tell him I love him, youngest gets a stroke over his head and me telling him I love him (he's still in a cot, otherwise he'd get a kiss too). They're 4 & 1 (almost 2).

Do other parents do this or is this just me?

I do it. DH thinks I'm mad.

DH always goes in after me like I can't be trusted to do it properly 😂

Bloody hell, I'm surprised they haven't installed locks on the inside of their doors!!

Yes I will draw the line when partners are staying over, that seems quite the invasion of privacy...

I do! Little one is 2.5yo and it's totally part of my bedtime routine just like brushing my teeth - can't sleep if I don't do it, whole routine is out of whack then!

I check in on DS every night, tuck him back in, give him a kiss and tell him I love him. Warms my heart when I get an occasional sleepy 'love you mummy' back 🥰🥰

I thought every parent did this. Isn’t checking on them just normal? I’m the opposite of a helicopter parent but there’s never been a single nignt in 12 years that I’ve not crept in their rooms, felt if they’re hot/cold, popped a blanket over if needed, given them a little kiss & whispered that I love them.

Yes I do this every night with both of mine - 3 & 9 months x

Always! I’ll check on DD (who is 4), when I go to close her bedroom door once she’s asleep. Then I will check on her again before I go to sleep! I was thinking the night before that one day I’ll have to stop if she get’s to the point of being woken up easily! But at the moment it doesn’t wake her up so I’ll carry on as long as possible!

I do! She’s 3, I just like to see her tucked up and snoring away before I go to bed. Plus sometimes she kicks the duvet off or brings toys into the bed with her that need removing in case she rolls on them (I mean plastic dinosaurs or toys with musical buttons rather than a teddy)

I check on the 12 yo but not the 14 & 16 yo.
14 is usually still up when I go to bed but I lie awake and listen for him turning his lights off to make sure he’s not awake all night.
16 would bite my head off if I go anywhere near her room, she’s very private and I respect that.
12 would be up on technology all night if he could so I check on him to make sure is phone in off.

DD is 12 and I just can't settle until I check in on her gorgeous squishy face x

Yes, I can't imagine not!!

Once they're older if their lights are on I'll say goodnight, (I liked my parents doing that) but not go in, nor will I go in if their lights are off. Too intrusive IMO

Same!

Yes I do this!

Cannot go to bed without just checking them and maybe a quick kiss or gentle cuddle

DD19 still gets a 'goodnight' through the door, unless she comes in after me, where she then always say 'goodnight mum' as she passes my door, no matter what time she comes in as she knows I'm always half awake. If either of us are away for the night we also drop a quick text to say goodnight. She will be 20 soon which is 7300 times I've said goodnight to her.

Haha. I'm in my 60s and my mums in her 80s and when I'm at hers, she does this to me.
Just another 60 years to go, op! 😄

I've never done it. Didn't realise people did this.

I stopped this once he got to 13 or so - never walk straight into his room these days under any circumstances - they need privacy at some stage. When he was younger though- every night to check he looked warm enough/was tucked in/ would put an extra blanket on if it felt chilly!

I always did. Now she's 16 and I'm in bed before her.

I check on mine ages 7/11 every night! Can’t sleep if I haven’t tucked them in/ checked they are breathing

I look in on my youngest. Not the older one though - she'd wake up!

Yes i do this eldest is 17. Norm just to check everything off too. Then check the others /kiss

I always check both of mine. Mainly because anxiety won't let me go to sleep if I don't and sometimes I do it again in the middle of the night just to check them but I do love tucking them in and seeing them asleep each night.

I was coming on to say exactly this!

14 and 17 year old and they come in to kiss me goodnight on their way to bed

Sort of. Dd likes her nightly 'debrief' I sit on her bed and just let her chat, sometimes it's just a natter, but sometimes it's something worrying her (she's 12). Ds is 11 and still likes to be read a story (or sometimes he just wants to talk) It's pretty much the only time they get me 1:1. I don't check on them once I've said goodnight and lights out though.