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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To still put nearly 3.5 yr old to bed at 7 at weekends

56 replies

Jumpingovaries1 · 07/01/2012 21:53

Not a big deal really but just interested what the majority of you do. Dh and I work full time, dd in nursery 3.5 days with grandparents for 1.5 days. She has been a great sleeper from months old and is in bed sleeping for 7 each night sleeps til 7/7.30 and after a busy week at nursery/grandparents will still have the occasional nap after lunch at weekend.
I have friends whose kids get to have film night with parents at the weekend and get to stay up a bit later. I know my dd would love this as would we love the extea time with her I feel that this would leave her tired the next day though and don't want to spoil the usual weekend activities soft play, swimming etc. is later bedtime at weekends the norm and we are just being a bit pfb at 3.5.

OP posts:
mummynoseynora · 07/01/2012 21:55

my DD is nearly 5 and is still in bed at 7 9/10 times, exceptions being family do's.

HTH

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 07/01/2012 21:56

Not unreasonable at all. I have a 3.6 yo who goes to bed at about 6.30, my 7 yo goes to bed at 7. On the whole, I let my eldest stay up at weekends for a movie, but the youngest would get far too tired. You have plenty of time to do that stuff as they get older. It really is a lovely thing to do, I know my dd looks forward to the time just the two of us on the sofa eating popcorn, but it's not worth it if the next day will be ruined due to tiredness.

mumnotmachine · 07/01/2012 21:57

If the routine works for you why change it?
Trust me- before you know it your pfb will be an obnoxious teenager you wont be able to
a) get to bed at a reasonable time
b) prise out of bed at a reasonable time

I was always stuck to same times weekends as well

Shakey1500 · 07/01/2012 21:57

My DS is 4 and has always been an early sleeper. Come 6.30pm he is asking to go to bed and asleep by 7pm.

Give it a go? See how she is the next day? Worth a whirl Grin

TheGoddessBlossom · 07/01/2012 21:58

My 5 & 7 year old DSs go to bed at 7pm every night. The exception being Christmas day or a party.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 07/01/2012 21:58

Our ds's are 3.4 and 6.3.

They're both in bed by 7pm every night, often a bit earlier at weekends if we've had busy days and they're worn out after busy weeks. They sleep until about 7am.

I'd love it if they stayed up a bit later at weekends but they're usually far too tired for it to be any fun so we, like you, prioritise having fun during the day.

wheresmypelvicfloorgone · 07/01/2012 21:59

try a later bedtime and see what happens?
if it suits your child then great
if she's really cranky the next day think again
tbh if it's only an hr or so i don't think it's a big deal at that age, but some children are more sleep sensitive than others
i'd go for it though, it's lovely having the odd late night with your children i think

cupofteaplease · 07/01/2012 21:59

My 6 and 4 year olds are asleep by 6.30 every night including weekends. I know their friends stay up later, but they need the sleep (they are up before 6am whatever time they go to bed!) and until they request otherwise, this will continue!

ImperialBlether · 07/01/2012 21:59

I think children need a long, regular sleep.

But - she would love film night? Well, why don't you have film night at 5pm (or so) on a Saturday night - she can have an early bath, pyjamas on, order a pizza for when she's out of the bath, everyone watches a film, then she goes to bed at 7pm.

Would that work for all of you? Win-win, I would have thought.

Eglu · 07/01/2012 22:00

YANBU. It depends on the child. My children will reliably sleep in later if allowed to stay up late. I have friends whose children will get up at the same time regardless of the time they go to bed.

My boys have just put their lights out after watching a film, but will not get up until 9ish tomorrow. If you know your DD won't get all the sleep she needs leave it as it is.

BornToFolk · 07/01/2012 22:01

DS is 4.3 and has always had a 7pm bedtime. He does stay up a bit later on the odd occasion but never later than 8pm. He's usually ready to drop by 7pm and usually asks to go to bed!
Me and DP both work full time too so time with him is precious but it just wouldn't be fair on him to keep him up when he's knackered after a busy day. He's at nursery full time and is wiped out by Friday so he needs the weekend to recover and as we can't persuade him to sleep past 7am, he's off to bed at 7pm!

startail · 07/01/2012 22:03

YANBU you are just very lucky.
As the lucky "owner" of the night owl never ever went to bed before 8pm model and the will only go to bed at the same time as big sister, but get up earlier version. I'm Envy

pointythings · 07/01/2012 22:04

This was normal bedtime when mine were that age, we just gradually eased it back as and when they seemed to not need so much sleep. I'd keep things as they are, she clearly needs the almost 12 hours.

FWIW mine are now almost 9 and almost 11 - bedtime is up at 7.30. bedtime routine and long chunk of being read to, then in bed by 8, 15 minutes of reading time then lights out. They need their sleep. Exceptions only happen for major family events like birthdays, weddings and Christmas. Mind you, on a normal working they we (and they) have to be up for 6am and disrupting the routine at weekends would be horrendous, so we just end up being draconian...)

naturalbaby · 07/01/2012 22:05

my 3.9yr old has an afternoon nap a few days a week and is in bed at 7:30. i am very very grateful after the hours i spent trying to get him to sleep as a baby who would only ever nap for 30mins.
part of the reason why christmas was quite difficult was our kids sleep routine was so messed up so i'm happy for our lives to revolve around our kids routine for as long as possible.

LisaD1 · 07/01/2012 22:05

DD2 is 4.3 and she still goes to bed at between 7 and 7.30pm at weekends, she is up around 7am no matter what time she goes to bed and if she doesn't get enough sleep she is a horror!

Littlefish · 07/01/2012 22:07

Dd is 7. She needs lots of sleep so she still goes to bed between 7 - 7.30. I have to wake her up at 7.30am on school days but she will happily sleep in til 8.30 or 9 at weekends.

If she has a late night she is really grouchy the next day unfortunately.

FabbyChic · 07/01/2012 22:07

When I worked full time I kept mine up till half 8 sometimes 9, why? Becuase I wanted to spend time with them and see them, I see no reason to put them to bed early unless its for selfish reasons i.e you cant be arsed to interect and want time for yourself.

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 07/01/2012 22:09

YANBU

Our 5 year old ans 6 month old go to bed at 7 every night apart from special occasions - Family Do's for example.

In fact, we tried to keep him up (DS1) for NYE to let off some lanterns etc and he was asking to go to bed at 8.30!!

We woke him up at 11.30 for the fireworks etc and he loved it.

But do what suits your children, you and your family.

Though my BF has her 4 kids up after 9pm most nights which I will never understand.

Rikalaily · 07/01/2012 22:10

My 5, 6 & 9 year olds were all in bed by 7 tonight, the younger two went at about 6.45pm, they were knackered. I don't let them stay up any later at weekends, they would lose the sleep they need as they just don't sleep in no matter how late they go, they are up before 6am most days, some days as early as 4.30am.

Rikalaily · 07/01/2012 22:12

Forgot to add... My 9 year old usually stays up until 8pm and can read in bed until 9pm unless he's visibly tired. It's the 5&6 year olds who are the demon early wakers, he will sleep in until about 7-7.30am if they don't wake him ip.

LisaD1 · 07/01/2012 22:15

How ironic that Fabby kept her kids up late to keep her company yet those that put their children to bed at an age appropriate time so they get the sleep they NEED are seen as the selfish ones Hmm

suebfg · 07/01/2012 22:16

DS goes to bed at same time every night - 7 pm - unless there's a special occasion or we're on holiday.

NoWayNoHow · 07/01/2012 22:18

YANBU - DS is 4.2 and still goes to be at 7pm with very very occasional exception (like today, travelling back from folks, traffic, etc).

Until I start to see evidence of him not needing as much sleep then I'll keep putting him down when he NEEDS to be put down.

yy, lisa - very ironic indeed!

SouthStar · 07/01/2012 22:20

Mine are 4 and 3 and they are usually in bed by 7 - 7.30. They could stay up untill 12 and they would still be up at 6. my ds has huge tantrums if he is over tired so a good nights sleep is a must. Every so often I let them sleep in the same room together and have a dvd night and they are allowed to play quietly together. They still usually spark out by 9ish snuggled in bed together.

ohbugrit · 07/01/2012 22:22

YANBU, sensible in fact. Their little bodies get into a routine.

DS has always needed an early bedtime (looking back I think I could have avoided some of the colic hell by surrendering and putting him to bed late afternoon when that was what he needed) and now at 4.5 he's rarely up later than 7.30. If he's very tired he'll be there by 6.30.

Occasionally we have a film night, usually if his dad's on back shift, and he gets to stay up a bit later than usual, but in his PJs and ready for bed. He's usually goggle-eyed and yawning by 8pm, so I tend to do as someone already suggested and start it early - he watches the start while I put his little sister to bed then we snuggle up together.

I hate seeing little children kept up late for their parents' convenience, obviously tired, starting to "misbehave" and getting in trouble for it, when they just need to be allowed to rest. Not for a second saying that's what you're proposing OP, but some family members do this and it really pisses me off.

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