To have a bedtime for my children?

[hellobello]

I like to be able to put the children to bed, so that me and dh can have a bit of grown-up time in the evening.

[Blandmum]

bunny boiler if ever there was one

[mylittlefreya]

I have a bedtime for me! So yes, I have a (flexible) bedtime for dd.

[WinkyWinkola]

Bedtime is the one thing I'm really strict about. My DS (27 months) and DD (5 months) are in bed by 6.30pm. I set that time so that as they get older I've got some negotiating room for later bedtimes. Anyway, they need their sleep.

[unknownrebelbang]

Mine always had a bedtime, although middle rebel always thought it didn't apply to him.

Still like the concept of a bedtime, but activities and commitments get in the way so it's a bit hit and miss these days.

[xXxamyxXx]

my son goes to bed at 8 he is two but this is the earliest he will settle at i find if he doesnt have a normal bedtime {if he has a cold etc}he is cranky upset n bad tempered all the next day not himself at all

[hellobello]

If the children DON'T have a bedtime, what time is there for adult relationships? (I don't just mean sex. What time then to have a drink, calm down, talk about grown-up things. If children don't have a bedtime, don't they take over everything?

[roisin]

DS1 is 10 and he "goes upstairs" at 7.30 pm. He usually doesn't go to to bed until about 8.30, but reads in bed for an hour or more.

But it means I get child-free time in the evenings, which is important to me. (Ds2 - 8 - goes up at 6.30).

[saz360]

yes we have a bed time as i need time to wind down and give the house a quick clean.

all three go up at 7pm, youngest 2 (2yrs 9mths and 4yrs 2mths ) go straight to sleep eldest (6yrs 5 mths) reads to 7.20 and then lights out.

when middly starts school next month he will go to be at 6.30 as i know he will be tired and crabby, for the first term at least.

i have a friend who's kids don't have a bedtime and it is a nightmare to go round there in evening as kids playing up all night long.

but each to their own i suppose

[derah]

DOn't all kids need at least 12 hrs sleep a night? How on earth do they get enough sleep to develop properly and healthily if they don't have a bedtime? And how on earth do the parents get any time to sit down for 5 mins or catch up on housework or spend time on mn or any of the other myriad things I do when DD (who is 2 and goes for her bath followed by bed at 7pm) is asleep? Kids without a bedtime seems like a recipe for trouble to me.

I don't think BIL and SIL's kids had a bedtime, and they're both horrible horrible brats.

[EscapeFrom]

derah - "DOn't all kids need at least 12 hrs sleep a night?"

It shows that youhave on 2 year old...

No. All children don't need 12 hours sleep a night. I don't know any children over the age of 4 who do, and many under 4 who don't, so really truly make the most of this.

[QueenEagle]

ds4 (2.8) 7pm - 7.30pm, wakes at 6.30 onwards
ds3 (4.8) 7pm - 7.30pm, wakes at 6.30 onwards
ds2 (11.5) 8.30pm, lights out at 9pm, needs to be up at 7.30am
ds1 (13.7) 9pm, lights out 9.30pm, gets up for paper round at 6.30am
dd (15.9) 10.30pm lights out 11pm, needs to be up at 6.45am


Always had a bedtime routine since they were babies, I probably need more sleep than they do!!

imo lack of bedtime rules often mean slack parenting in other areas.

[juuule]

"imo lack of bedtime rules often mean slack parenting in other areas."
Really which areas would they be then?

[juuule]

Derah - as has been said 'enjoy it while it lasts'
Although it may be the way your child will always be. My eldest has always enjoyed her sleep and still does mostly (16y now).

[Hulababy]

My 5yo has a bedtime of 7:30pm on school nights. That's when we aim to be in bed for having a story. She then has a nightlight left on and she will read to herself for a bit and then nod off.

Weekends and holidays are very flexible and can vary loads depending on where we are and what we are doing. Can be VERY late at times.

However we are very lucky I think. DD sleeps for approx 10-12 hours every night. So a late bedtime will mean a ,ater wake up time, so sometimes it benefits us for DD to go to bed late And other times it benefits us for her to have an earlier night.

So, yes we have a bedtime but it is very flexible when needs be.

[Hulababy]

"DOn't all kids need at least 12 hrs sleep a night?"

No. My younger sister has never needed 12 hours sleep even when very little. She only ever slept for much shorter periods, tot he extent my mum spoke tot he GP about it. As the GP said, all children are different - children and babies haven't read the parenting books and they simply don't know what they should be doing!

[Nymphadora]

My dd1 NEEDS 12 + hours a night (7) but dd2 is fine off 5 (usually nearer to 8 now though) and she is 5

[Anna8888]

My daughter (2.9) needs about 9 hours sleep a night at most.

Her brother (12) needs 8 hours max.

Her other brother (10) needs about 11 hours.

All children are different.

[TheArmadillo]

DS usually goes to bed around 6.20.

Though as he is not at school/nursery anything yet, it is flexible depending on what we are doing - bonus of having only one child, and them being a pre-schooler I think.

Bedtime is one thing I am strict on - when we start his bedtime routine and point out it is time for bed, it is time for bed.

I need evening time for myself and for me and dp.

[sparklygothkat]

DD1 (7)and dd2(5) go to bed between 7:30pm-8:30pm, depending on if its a school night or not. DS (9) goes between 8pm-9pm. Not strange to have a bedtime IMO

[Dinosaur]

I don't think it's strange either and my DSs have always had one.

But my parents seem to think that it verges on child cruelty .

[Howdydoody]

Anyone else feel the days getting so much longer the older the children get? Esp when you still have toddlers - the day used to start 6.30am and finish at 6.30pm - with teenagers it doesnt end till about 10 pm if we're lucky!!!

[Wilkie]

Hellobello - YADNBU!!!!!!!! DS is in bed by 6pm so we can have the evening to ourselves.

[juuule]

Absolutely Howdydoody. 17yo can be up till very late and 7yo and 4yo awake very early. Very very long days sometimes.