What time do your kids go to bed? Ages 7, 9, 11

[unlikelychump]

I'm trying to decide if mine are too late, it seems to be creeping later and later.

Mine’s just turned 12. In bed for 9, usually asleep for 10.30 and up at 6.30.

Term time I aim for 8pm (ages 6 and 8, share a room)

Holidays usually 9/9.30.

Same for us.

My 13 yo struggled this year as his soccer (3 nights a week) was from 8 - 9, often not finishing till close to 930.

That was too late - for me as well as him!

@WotNoUserName
You're putting a 10/11 year old to be at 7:30????

Mine are similar ages, and bedtime is 8-8.30 in termtime, and 9ish in the holidays. Every child differs though and you can see if your child isn’t getting enough sleep. I volunteer at our local primary school’s breakfast club and some of the kids would be so visibly tired every morning.

My 10 year old is exactly the same. I'm hoping teenage hormones will kick in at some point because he STILL insists on starting his day by coming into our room for a cuddle. I know I'll miss it when he stops, but still, I ache for a lie in.

My DC has always had what others on here would consider an 'early' bed time (at 10 was going to bed at 8pm, changed to 8:30 in January of year 6 but he still chooses to go to bed early sometimes) but that's cos my and DP's working hours /commute meant we had to get up early and he went to breakfast club. Going to bed at the same time as others the same age would have meant DC didn't get enough sleep.

10 & 12.
Screens stop at 9. Lights off at 10 although no pressure on insomniac 12yo as long as he's relaxing in bed, and has soft lighting on.

We're out of the house 6-8 most evenings. Scouts isn't finished until 9. We then need to eat. If they had their main meal at 5 before heading out, that would be long forgotten anyway and require cooking a second meal or serving long-congealed left overs for DH.
When they were little at nursery, we weren't in before 6pm, so eating around 7 and lights off at 8.

DM had an obession with early bedtimes for the sake of it. There wasn't any virtue to being stuck in bed in the dark for two hours every bloody night, being bored rigid just so that she could think she was a wonder-parent for imposing some arbitary time limit. And no I didn't actually bugger up my eyesight by reading by cracks of light at the door or street lamp despite her dire warnings.

not awful at all. They are all just different. My 8 yo really struggles with falling asleep, it's always much later than the 10 yo. He always complains of 'lying awake for hours' which i think is a slight exaggeration.
But as long as he gets up ok for school, which he does, I think it's fine (it's the 10 yo that we have to drag out of bed despite him on average sleeping much longer)

For those who ask how we manage such early bed times with hobbies and sports etc. I think we must be lucky with clubs. I live in a big city with lots of opportunities for them. Mine do sports, drama and dance. My older one is home from these the vast majority of the time by 7:30. Most clubs run straight on or a quick turnaround from school.

I'm not saying my kids never have a later night. It happens like a later cricket away match may be later. Theatre trips and concerts. But the vast majority of the times they have lights out on time.

DS has never needed lots of sleep but since his body clock doesn’t do lie-ins he’s very good at keeping to his bedtime routine. He’s awake at 6 most days.

My two are 13 and 10. The 10yo is in bed, lights out for 2100. The 13yo is in bed at 2100, lights out by 2200. They're both bad at actually going to sleep unless they're completely cream crackered though and have been since they were born. The 13yo is usually still awake when I go to bed at 11-ish.

Not all children going to bed early are the same. Just mentioning due to your wording (virtue, wonder-parent).

Mine go to bed early but go to sleep very easily; within a few minutes once their lights are turned out. I’m no ‘wonder-parent’ but my DC like their sleep, and my youngest will ask to go to bed if tired earlier.

7 y/o - 8pm lights out
11 y/o - 9.30 lights out
Try to keep it same whether weekend or week day. Our home is too small to have them bouncing around all hours

DS1 (10, lark). Apart from Scouts and cricket nights…in bed by 8, asleep by 8:10, up about 5:30.
DS2 (7, night owl). In bed for 8…chats, sings to himself until about 9:30…has to be woken at 7:30.

DS1 has struggled with some clubs…Scout nights he’s ‘all eyes’ by the time he’s in bed about 9:30 as he cannot lie in. I worry he’s ill if he’s not up by 6:30.

Oh and they eat with childminder about 5…so that’s no issue.

During school my 8 year old goes to bed between 7-8. Obviously a lot later during the holidays.

Mine are 5 & 10. In bed, ideally at 8:30-900, but not usually asleep until closer to 10. I wish it was earlier, but they take forever to go to sleep and there is too much to do in a day to get them in bed earlier.

My 7 and 9 year old go to bed at 8.45-9pm and wake up around 7-7.30. Although once a week they'll randomly not go to sleep until 11pm or decide to get up for the day at 6.15am. DSS is 8, goes to bed at 9.15pm and is up at 6.30.

I used to get really stressed about them getting enough sleep but the kids were picking up on my stress and it was causing them anxiety, so I've had to learn to become a bit more laid back over bedtimes!

During school 9 year old 8.30/9, 12 year old 10.30. schools holidays/weekends 9 year old 10/10.30 and the 12 year old around 11.30. they sleep longer on weekends/holidays but generally if they were put to sleep earlier they wouldn't sleep just moan around and fall asleep at the later time so just put them to bed at the times set and they fall asleep straight away

Are we talking currently (school holidays) or normally?

Currently 9 yo in bed by 10 (😱😱) it's usually 8.45-9

It would be earlier but they have an older sibling who goes to bed later and if I'm honest I can't be arsed with the moaning about it not being fair.
If no older sibling, I'd make it 9pm holiday and 8pm school time.

13yo in bed at 9.45 school, 11pm (same as me!) in holidays

DD is 8, she goes up around 8-9 pm, depending on what we're doing / if she's reading or not. School hols are more or less the same but we're flexible again depending on what we're doing.

Interesting range of replies thanks. We are clearly not too out of ordinary, although I relaxed a bit today and he is still awake now.

He does get up bright and early every day, but he is not doing great at school, which is what I am worried about.

In school term, in bed by 8 for me to read them a story, and lights out by 8.30. They are typically asleep within 10-15 mins and up at 7.30ish next day.

7 yo DS bed for 7, can read to himself for a bit, then lights out definitely by 8 unless I think he’s tired in which case a bit earlier. Weekends are a bit more lenient.
I’d also take the fact he’s up bright and early with a pinch of salt - even if DS went to bed at 10pm he’d stilI be awake in the morning no later than 7/7:30.