What’s your 8 year old’s bedtime routine?

[cerviniaparadise]

Do you even have one?

My son is 7, but only a few months away from being 8.

Generally, he's in his room for quiet time by 6/6:30, and is settling down for bed by 8/8:30 (depending how long it takes to get him into his pyjamas and brush his teeth) and is generally asleep by 9/9:30. We watch ASMR to relax him. He gets a shower before bedtime every other day.

I've tried getting him to bed earlier, but he just isn't tired enough even if he's spent all day running around

Aim for 9pm and happy if she's asleep at 9:30pm. Always up first in the morning. Neither child needs much sleep.

She has half an hour kindle time from 8 to 8.30, then she brushes her teeth and goes up to bed. She is generally asleep by 9.

Dd is 8 she’s in bed for 8.15-8.30pm. Depending on how tired she is she may read for a 10-15 minutes or go straight to sleep she’s very good at judging fo herself. Cubs & football training nights it’s 8.30-8.45pm. Weekends later depending on what we’re up to. School days she’s up at 7-715am.

About 7.30 I send her for a shower and to brush teeth.
About 7.50 I go and remind her to brush her teeth
About 8pm I remind her again to brush her teeth, get her pyjamas on and I help dry her hair.
Depending on how quickly that happens or if she's still sitting around staring into space 20 minutes later, I read a story.

I take DD (18 months) to bed at 7pm. DS is nearly 9. He tends to play Minecraft with his friend until about 8.30pm and then gets ready for bed. Most of the time, DD will be asleep by then. I read a story to DS and then it's lights out by 9pm.

We've got some evenings, when we don't get home until 7.30pm, so I'll just take DD to bed then. Doesn't usually change the other timings, though.

8pm bath
8.20-9pm- stories in bed with me and play with teddies 🤣

We love our bedtime snuggles. Then I put him in his bed and he falls asleep pretty much straight away.

Up for a story around 7:45/8 then bed so 8/8:15

Up for bath story around 7.30pm (bath every other night) and lights out 8-8.15pm. She’s so tired from school/afterschool/clubs/sprts that she is out like a light. Wakes 6.30-7.15pm ish.

When son was 8 he had a bath at 7, up in bedroom by 7.30, then he would read for about half an hour, and lights off at 8 ish - we'd have a little chat and sing a song beforehand! He had a radio he could listen to until I came to bed at 9, but he didn't usually bother.

He'd sleep right through and need waking at 7am for school.

DTs 7y10m

Twin1 upstairs shortly after 7, bit earlier if it's bath night. PJs, teeth. I read him a chapter of his book. He can watch a Bluey or something else short / gentle. Lights out 730/740 ish.

Then take up Twin 2 and repeat. She's down by 820ish.

Routine is key imo!

Shower at 7pm. Watch TV together for 15 minutes then upstairs again at 7.30. Clean teeth and read together. Lights out at 8pm.

What does quiet time in his room for 2 hours look like, OP? Is he alone for all that time? 6 is very early to start too.

We tend to keep later hours than might be ideal for many, mainly because eldest child is a total night owl.

For the 8yo, we go up to shower at 8.30 - 8.45. By the time he has a long shower then gets ready for bed, and older DC gets through the shower it is 9.30. We do a story together - normally at least a couple of chapters, or listen to an audio book. Ideally it is lights out and asleep by 10, but it can be 10.15.

Hi - I think you meant to reply to me regarding quiet time.

Quiet time isn't only for him, but for us too. It gets him into a relaxed state of mind. He can play with toys, watch his tablet, play on his Switch or read. It's his own free time to just chill out.

The reason we give him chill out time is because he's autistic and so am I. Giving him the space he needs to just do what he wants (within reason, obviously) means that he doesn't get overstimulated, and it gives me the room I need to calm down if I've had a chaotic day.

Honestly it really is beneficial to our family. And I understand 6pm sounds early but honestly it's the perfect amount of time for us ☺️

We eat dinner quite late. Shower 7:30. Bed 8:00. Chatting, reading and aiming for sleep by 8:30. Wakes up at 7:30.