"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?

Every night, hold their hand or strike their head, they’re 6 and 2, they look like perfect angels when they’re asleep!

Yes! My children are much older than yours.

Still look in on mine who are older teenagers!

No, never have (older teens now). When they were little I used to pause by their doors to check I could hear breathing but never went in, I'd never disturb a sleeping child. My parents never did this either, I liked my privacy. They've always been excellent sleepers and I've never needed to turn off devices or similar either.

I still do this. I also do it if I have woken in the middle of the night. I can't sleep until I have checked that everyone is ok.

@EasilyDirected I don't disturb their sleep. They are fast asleep, don't even twitch. I don't worry about their breathing, it's not about that.

Oh, that's the only reason I would have thought to do it, I'm genuinely surprised so many do this especially for older children. Doesn't the door opening and shutting disturb them?

I don't do this but many people do. It makes me feel like there's something wrong with me because I just don't feel the need! I did when they were babies but now they're 12 and 10 and I really don't believe anything would happen to them when they're sleeping soundly in bed.

Oh definitely at that age! My son has left home and is 19 and I don't sleep well unless he's texted a goodnight!
I always feel better knowing my kids are ok. In fact, I remember when younger (but not a child) feeling more secure when parents, my sisters and I were all under the same roof!

Of course parents do this. What a bizarre question.

Dts are 11, I always check on them
Before I go to bed

I do, but my eldest two (16/14) are often still awake when I go up to bed around 9:30pm/10pm, and sometimes still downstairs!

I sit in bed and knit with an audiobook or Podcast for an hour and even then they’re still usually awake/just drifting off.

Around half the time, one or the other will come and sit on my bed with me; either quietly with their head on my shoulder or they’ll want to discuss something private. This is my new “tucking them in before they sleep”.

DD3 is 7 so she still gets tucked in again when I go up, and I wonder how much longer I’ll get to do that for.

I don't because I have to stay with him till he falls asleep so it's never that long before I go to bed myself .

But my dad used to come in from work late and he always did it and it's one of my most precious memories now he's gone. As I got older I loved being awake when he popped his head in.

How lovely 🥰. What a lovely relationship you had with your df ❤️

The eldest (19) comes to check on us
Younger one (nearly 15) still gets quick check and sometimes asks to be tucked in.

Yep, I have teenagers and still look in on them before I go up. They are more often than not still awake though.

No. Mine are pre teens and I usually collapse around the same time as them.

11 and 8 and I still do 💗

Yep mine are 5 and 7 and I still check them before I go to bed! If their covers are off I tuck them back in.

My mum still did this when I was a teenager. Used to drive me insane 😆

Both DH and I always checked our children before we went to bed, when they got to the age of having a closed door we knocked and said goodnight.
They both do it to their children.
And when our grandchildren stay we do it to them.

I always did. And I've always assumed that every parent did this!

surely everyone does? My daughter is 12 and I check on her before I go to bed always; and if I get up for the loo in the night I check on her again before I go back to bed!

I used to do this but stopped when they became teens and were still awake when I was heading to bed. We just say good night for the second time and I tell them I love them and that I'll see them in the morning.

Yes I do. It's the sweetest thing. Even if they've been a handful in the day, seeing them asleep and cosy like little cherubs still gives me butterflies!