To keep my toddler up past bedtime every Saturday?

[DaisyChaining]

I'm a single parent. My DD is very cute around bedtime, all cuddly and giggly and constantly telling me she loves me and that I'm her best friend (I'm being manipulated I know, but she's just turned two so it's a new occurrence and I'm smitten ). We usually have to get up early on the weekdays for work and uni and nursery. On Saturdays I usually keep her up till about 9, which means she usually sleeps in till 8-9am Sunday mornings. I also like spending the extra time with her. Plus it's my only opportunity for a lie in although I would never have counted that as a lie in 2 years ago. She's fine about it, loves it - rubs her eyes a couple of times but is jovial and enjoys the extra play/ TV time with mummy.

But am I just messing up her routine or confusing her; doing something wrong or just generally being a shit mum keeping a 2 year old up till 9pm? The shoppings due in a minute and I feel I might be judged am having a glass of wine too

It's shit being a single parent sometimes. But have donned my hard hat and am ready for the flame🙈

I think that's fine. My view is that being too strict with routines can make children a bit, well, anal, when they're adults. I always let mine stay up late at weekends when they were little.

If it's making her over tired you'd know all about it. If it's working for you both then carry on and don't worry about any one elses opinion.

It's only messing up the routine if, well, it's messing up the routine. You'd know if it was. If you don't have unusual trouble getting her to bed the following night, and she's not overtired and miserable, then it's fine. Sounds nice. :)

The 7pm bedtime thing is peculiarly British; on the Continent, you routinely see children up a lot later. Mine have always been late to bed and a bit later to get up. Works for them and it works for us. So what? As long as they get the sleep they need, then it's fine. Children are different and prefer different ways of being. Go with what works for you and your child.

"See if I kept my toddler up late she would still be up at 6 the next day and would be vile by early afternoon. Yours sleeps in and presumably goes to bed at a normal time on Sunday to be up on time on Monday so why on earth not?"

This!

Enjoy it OP, bedtime round yours sounds LOVELY.

It's absolutely fine. My 2 year old has only just gone to bed now (9pm) as she was up late eating with us and friends and enjoying herself. It sounds good to be flexible about routine.

Cuddle time is very, very important. You are doing a good thing. :)

I do this.. That snuggly time is the best. I love it.

I have a two and a three year old and I put them to bed at around eight to half eight and mag keep them up a little later than that at weekends

Crack on! Unfortunately my children wake up at 5am no matter what bloody time they go to bed so Sunday would be hideous.

Enjoy!

Enjoy it!

I'm a single Mum with a similar age child. There's a routine but it flexible, I love the extra time when it happens because I work full time.

Wow, I was not expecting these responses! Thank you all. I do agree I've lucked out with a kid who'll sleep later due to a later bedtime. And she'll happily go to bed at 7.30 tomorrow. She's just the bloody best, even if she is a moody moo on the bus and in the buggy and the bath. And will be up before 6 Monday - Friday 🙈 I know I said it's shit being a single parent, but in a way I'm glad I get all of her love 24/7. God, I might even do the same on Friday. Delivery driver didn't look like he was hoicking his judgey pants either

Now I'm settling down with one more glass and designated survivor. Debating a Deliveroo. Happy days

My DD is 16 months and always goes to bed at 9! And sleeps until 8am. Works for us

I sometimes think we should live in Spain or Italy No strict early bedtimes in this house.

Sounds like youhave a busy week your Saturday night sounds lovely and you both get a long lie win/win really

A child who will actually sleep late if you keep them up late is surely the holy grail of parenting!

My daughter does that but she also slept like shit until this year so not quite the holy grail but sure did love those lie-ins (and with her it was a proper lie-in - she'd sleep until 11 or 12!)

If it works for you guys, why not?

Keep my eldest up even half an hour after bedtime at that age and he would be screaming the place down, he needed his sleep. But my youngest was a lot more flexible and would be fine with this.

Every kid is different.

Sounds lovely! I think it's a refreshing change to hear that someone wants to and enjoys spending time with their toddler

《Looking at you next door neighbour》

I'm the same as you OP and do it with my 18m old, it's lovely

Oh and by the way.....when I was about 6 or 7, my darling mum (no longer with me), used to come and get me up (it was our secret), to watch Miss World. She let me watch it to the end, on her knee. My older brother and younger sister knew nothing. It was the early 70's.
I have never forgot that (plus I always got Horlicks and a digestive). Happy Days. She put us to bed at 7 and came and got me for Miss World.

We do this with ours. We are all "owls" I think as they love to stay up and party and then have a lie in!
We are evil FT working parents and enjoy the extra time with them at weekends.

God I'd love it if my ds slept later due to a late bedtime. He's always up between 6-6.30 so has to go to bed at 7 or he'd be tired.
The couple of times he's had a late night he's gotten up even earlier