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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bed time for 14 and 16 yr olds on school nights

62 replies

WhitePhantom · 19/05/2017 00:14

Apparently we're ridiculously strict and EVERYONE else gets to stay up later... so how many hours before getting-up time do your teens go to bed?

(Not asking what time they go to bed, cos obvs that depends on what time they have to get up, so just asking how many hours between going to bed and having to get up again)

Thanks!

OP posts:
KeepServingTheDrinks · 19/05/2017 00:17

Oh... under another name I was LAMBASTED for this! Watching with interest!

(manage with 9. If unregulated and no noise pollution will sleep 12 - 13 hours)

flibberdy · 19/05/2017 00:19

13yo goes to bed at 9:30. Wakes up at 7

Original poster
WhitePhantom · 19/05/2017 00:21

Yikes! Why lambasted, Keep?

OP posts:
CrazedZombie · 19/05/2017 00:21

My 14 year old sleeps 10-6:30

My 16 year old sleeps 12-7 (but has to be quiet after 9:30 so younger sibling isn't distirbed)

Kimonolady · 19/05/2017 00:22

I was 16 not tooooo long ago (within the last decade.) I went to bed at 10pm for a 7am wake up. But when I say "went to bed", in reality my light would be off closer to 10:30.

Rubymay · 19/05/2017 00:22

10-11pm for 12, 14 & 15year olds
All up at 7.30 ish

Teardropexplodes · 19/05/2017 00:23

I send 14 year old up at 9.30, but he often watches telly till we go up at around 11. That's the only screen he has in his room and he doesn't struggle to get up in the morning.

lazydog · 19/05/2017 00:29

We send our 14 year old to bed at a time that should allow him 9.5hrs before he has to get up, but in reality he usually manages to drag his bedtime preparations out for about another 45 mins...

Our 17 year old usually goes to bed around 8hrs before he's due to get up, but he actually does so without faffing around for ages.

Original poster
WhitePhantom · 19/05/2017 00:31

Thanks all. What time does your 14 yr old get up, Teardrop ?

I've actually been looking up sleep requirements for teens on a few websites and they all recommend 8 - 10 hours (one gives a very exact figure of 9 and a quarter hours!) My teens currently get about 8 hours, sometimes slightly more or slightly less, but it would never be as much as 9 hours (except at weekends of course when they can sleep on)

Now I'm off to bed myself, because as always I'm guilty of staying up too late Blush

OP posts:
tickwhitetick · 19/05/2017 00:38

You give a 16 year old a bedtime?!

CheeseQueen · 19/05/2017 00:44

Nearly 14 year old has to be in bed,lights off at 10pm. Gets up for school at 7.30am.
any later to bed and morphs into Kevin The Teenager for the rest of the week

Trifleorbust · 19/05/2017 06:34

Teenagers do need more sleep than adults. 9-10 hours is about right.

Princecharlesfirstwife · 19/05/2017 06:38

I think a 16 yr old should be able to decide their own bedtime Confused. Dh and I are well in bed before DD1 (16) goes to bed - mind you we go to bed about 9 because we are sad oldies and she potters around, either finishing schoolwork/revising or having a bath and is pretty good at regulating herself, she usually pops in to say goodnight around 10.

Princecharlesfirstwife · 19/05/2017 06:40

oh just read the op properly and she gets up about 7:15

Buck3t · 19/05/2017 06:42

Mine just turned 15 he goes up about 9.00 now. He'd go up between 8 and 8.30 of his own accord before wakes up at 6.45 (shouldn't need to but he's so slow in the morning). With the occasional staying up late for a documentary, or extended family/sibling time. His sister (8) until recently went to bed later, because she can handle it. Different kids have different needs I imagine. Neither child has screens in their rooms.

The office is where the Desktop is kept.the kitchen is where the laptop normally ends up.

CPtart · 19/05/2017 06:43

14 year old sleeps 10.30-7.00. Longer at weekends.

picklemepopcorn · 19/05/2017 07:07

When they want to.

My rule from when they were young was that if they got up on time and were ready in the morning, they could manage their own sleep routines.

If I feel they are looking tired or complaining about being tired, I'll run through their routine with them and remind them that screens can interrupt the sleep cycle.

Katedotness1963 · 19/05/2017 07:13

At 14 mine went to bed around 10 and got up at 6. Now the youngest is about to turn 16, he goes to bed when he wants. He's quite sensible though and is usually asleep by 11. During the summer holidays he's up most of the night playing Xbox with his friends and sleeping during the day, oh well, he misses out the hottest hours I suppose...

228agreenend · 19/05/2017 07:20

i remember a similar thread from last year (keeps' post?).Posters were horrified that teens had a set bedtime. However, it came out that some could teens self regulate, and others couldn't. Some parents allowed their teens total control of their phones, others insisted on a no screen rule at night.

During school time, we like dcs (17 and 15) to be in bed by 10pm and have a 'no phone in bedroom' rule. The 17 will often go,up at 9.30pm and has always needed his sleep (except for us a baby -he never slept well GRrrr). The 15 year old can manage on less sleep. We like both off their computer games by 9.30ish (doesn't always happens).

However, during holidays etc we are a lot more relaxed about bedtimes.

228agreenend · 19/05/2017 07:23

both get up around 7ish, so approx. nine hours sleep.

socialanxietysrus · 19/05/2017 07:42

Midweek 13 year old DS goes up at 9pm and awake 6.45am. He moans that he's in bed earlier than friends but he usually falls asleep quickly and needs waking in the morning so obv needs it!!

Weekends we usually just let him do what he wants, within reason! In bed by the time we are though which is normally 10.30/11pm

Rumtopf · 19/05/2017 07:57

Dd is 14 and unless she's out at ATC, which finishes at 9:30, she's normally settled and in bed for 9:30, but gets up at 6. Weekends and holiday time are another matter. Without enough sleep she is horrible so for the time being we have to ensure that she gets an adequate amount as she's not brilliant at self regulating.

ToesInWater · 19/05/2017 08:06

14yo goes to sleep 9ish, she's up at 6.30. My 18yo is in his last year of school and generally turns his light off around 10 if he has to be up in the morning at the same time. We don't talk about "bedtime" - obviously the 18yo is an adult - but they are in the habit and clearly need this amount of sleep so there are never any issues about it. Their school day is long and DD in particular has extra things going on, she left for school before 7am this morning.

dingit · 19/05/2017 08:12

It's lights off at 10 here for all, 16 and 18 year old. Everyone needs to be up early, and it's exam season to boot.

Peanutbuttercheese · 19/05/2017 08:12

Midnight and up at 8 but school is a 3 minute walk.

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