to ask if this is a weird way to 'do' kids bedtime?

[alificent]

After browsing Facebook and reading other threads on here tonight, I've noticed lots of people saying about having put the kids to bed ages ago but them still crashing around, having to keep going up to them etc.

I read to all my DC together then give the middle ones different books to look at while I take the eldest to her room and tuck her in. I have a little chat with her then I sit in the room with the middle DC and breastfeed the baby. Within ten minutes they are all asleep. It never occurred to me to 'leave them to it' until they ask for me to do so. Does anyone else do bedtime like this or am I in the minority?

I've a new method, don't think anyone else has this, not that it's anything I've initiated. When DS was a toddler he needed loads of sleep. He would literally go upstairs unprompted and try to put himself to bed, anytime after 6 pm! He used to try to climb in his cot! He was always asleep within seconds of lying down and always slept 13 hours exactly. Needless to say I've never had to worry about bedtime routines, and I've very rarely managed to read him a bed time story as even when a lot older he fell asleep while I was on page 1. He's 13 now and puts himself to bed sensibly every night. I think I am extremely lucky!

Place child in bed, clean teeth, read the Gruffalo, close blinds, say goodnight, open wine.

It's fairly reliable.

I don't 'do bedtimes' for anyone, but my mum told us to get in bed, said goodnight and turned the light off, door shut, gone. We went to sleep, when we shared and when we didn't. None of us has any sleep issues.

Sometimes there was a story, when we were very small. Late 80s/early 90s mum!

Bails you shouldn't be cleaning their teeth in bed!

Bobbin, my parents did that too. But too early. Lay awake for hours. Have massive sleep issues. MN mantra: All kids are different.