to think my 6 year old doesn't need a 'normal' amount of sleep. ..

[greenbananas]

to be honest, I do think I am being unreasonable. Surely all 6 year old children need a good 11 hours sleep?

I do all the usual stuff. .. The trouble is, I am too ambitious, and try to get him into bed by half past eight each night. For every night I succeed with this, there is the payback of him being up until ten the next night. .. and then I feel so guilty! I am a childcare professional, and can't help feeling I ought to be doing more to make him sleep.

We only have complete success when I accept that he is not tired until at least nine o'clock. If he goes to bed at half past nine every night, then he wakes up at 7am, bright and breezy and ready for school. He is doing really well at school, and his teacher says he does not ever seem tired.

ds seems to thrive on an average of nine and a half hours sleep every night. I need more than this myself, what with a night-waking two year old!

Does anyone else have a 6 year old who doesn't seem to need a normal amount of sleep? If so, what do you do about it?

I have the same with DS1, he is 8 now but it started when he started school as he just cannot switch off. He always sleeps for less than 10 hours, often is still awake after 10. He is a bit of a worrier and that can affect his sleep. He is better when he is at school as he is pretty academic so it seems he is asleep by 10 on school nights. School holidays are worse as he is just not worn out enough to sleep.

Like others, we have room time which is usually upstairs by 730. He potters around, reads etc then will sleep whenever he needs to. We have tried stricter routines but it doesn't help him at all. He is fine with 9 hours sleep.

DS2 is the complete opposite and, at 6, will sleep from 730/8 to about 7/730.

BTW DS1 has never slept the recommended amount, as a baby he never slept in the day and only slept for 11/12 hours when he was about 18 months - 4 but with no naps.

We also have always have had adult evening time, the DCs have never been allowed downstairs after 730 unless its a special occasion. I couldn't cope if they were still up as need to relax or work in the evenings.

My niece gets put to bed at 7.30 pm every night. She's always up and bouncing around by 5 am. Apparently this is what works for them. That's nine and a half hours sleep (ish). She seems fine. She's five.