Is keeping a 2.5 year old out til 10pm too late?

[winterbaby7]

DH has found a Christmas event next week on Monday which is party Christmas songs at a venue. It’s seated. He wants us to go with DS. It starts at 7.30 and finishes at 10pm - I think it’s too late but DH adamant it’s fine. Am I just being a Scrooge and go as a one off? It makes me feel uneasy having DS out that late.

I think it depends. Is he liable to just fall asleep if he's tired and you can still enjoy the event? Or will he get overtired and grumpy and start kicking off, meaning it may ruin the event for others around you?

Depends on the kid, but both of mine have been fine with the occasional late night at an event.

One if mine would have coped with that and one wouldn’t. As an occasional thing I think it’s fine as long as the child could cope. Are you ok keeping your 2.5 year old so your older child can still go?

Just let him have a long nap in the afternoon. That's what we did with our kids when they were small so they could stay up till midnight on Hogmanay. If he gets tired just let him have a cuddle and fall asleep on your lap, it'll be fine.

Is an event on that late actually appropriate for young children? I wouldn’t expect it to be something where a two year old would be particularly welcome if it didn’t even start until most toddlers bedtime.

And although I’m usually ok with my kids having an occasional late night it wouldn’t be happening on Dec 23rd, given they’d be up late excited on 24th and I’d need them in a reasonable mood for Christmas.

It sounds like an adult event. i wouldn't have taken mine at that age.

I would be more concerned that he would be bored. 2.5 hrs is long for this age. We had a very patient DD but didn't do anything like that until she was 4.

Maybe go and be prepared to leave at the interval?

It depends.

On holiday I do this. If it was something where them kicking off wouldn’t be disruptive, I might think about it.

I’ve vetoed an evening carol service at 7pm as I think my similar aged child is at risk of disrupting it for others.

Very situational! ‘Seated’ would concern me.

Yes the event is the issue, not the timing I think. I would take 5yo to this but not my 2.5yo, she wouldn't sit for that length of time and would just get bored and disruptive, so she would stay home with DH. If it was a Christmas party kind of thing with lots of activity, then we would take both.

Depends on the child. at that age

ds1: no chance. Event would have been hell the next few days would be wildly unpleasant.

ds2: happy has Harry no problem.

Mine were always good at being up late but we never had bedtimes as such . Is it actually an event for small children if it is at those times

I think a Christmas party with friends or family and activities and lots of people and treats to keep him going, fine. A seated concert/panto until 10pm will likely be a nightmare.

It would be a stretch for a 2 year old to sit through a 3 hour performance in the best of circumstances (there’s a reason why people don’t take toddlers to pantos but usually start around school age). But when he’s tired and it’s bedtime, really difficult.

Sure, by all means, book it, but manage expectations that you likely won’t make it to the end. And also don’t be up and down and ruin it for everyone else because you have a sleepy toddler. Most 2 year olds would rather be at home with a hot chocolate and a story by the tree.

It depends on the child I think. My DS would have been fine but DD would be fast asleep or a nightmare by about 9. I'd have a get out if needed and a buggy for him to sleep/rest in if he wants to.

I personally wouldn't have done it, but I was prettty much into routine. If DS is used to going to bed late, sits well and won't be grouchy after a late night, it's fine. If it's a case of he'll just be tired and irritable while out, that's up to DH to deal with! I don't think others close by would appreciate it though if that was the case.

It's entirely kid and family dependent and what else is going on. s your DS likely to get overtired and cranky? will he cope but then be a nightmare the next day? If he is overtired the next day is he the kind of child you could put to bed ewarly/give an extra nap to so that he doesn't take days to recover?

As a one off, that’s fine.

Gave you got a contingency if dc plays up, cries etc during the concert? Is there somewhere you can sit outside the main hall? Or jointly agree that you will go straight home if it doesn’t work out?

(and are there tickets this late on?)

Depends on the child, whether they cope with late nights etc.

Also depends a bit on the event. For example, there are christmas carols at the RAH which are brilliant but do have some quite long bits where you are sitting listening to the music (which your child will likely not know), and I think those bits would be boring for most 2 year olds.

Any chance of a baby sitter?

Are children actually welcome?

Unusual time for a kids event

I think it all depends on the event and the child. I’d keep mine out for a Christmas party until 10pm no problem, just give him a really late nap (if he still naps). But if it’s something where they’ll have to sit still and be quiet I’d probably leave it, because my 2 year old is currently like a hurricane and wants to destroy everything in his path.

If DS doesn’t simply fall asleep and starts disturbing everyone else, who is your DH expecting will manage the situation ?