How old are children when they can put themselves to bed?

[unapologetic]

My dd is nearly 10 and I still have to call her to get ready, stand over her before she will put on her pyjamas, clean teeth, go to the toilet, etc. I have to supervise her getting into bed. She stalls at every stage and it takes so long. It seems such a waste of time for me. I am more than happy to do the bedtime story/tucking in bit but how much longer do I have to do the whole routine? I'm sure I was quite independent at her age.

6 and 7 and they will sometimes go to bed on their own but it's for fun and they don't do this on week nights. It takes forever for them to settle, they giggle and laugh and play for ages. We don't mind at weekends. If on their own their 'bedtime routime' takes an hour and a half, so really it's pointless! They share a bedroom and given the chance they would play/giggle/run around until 1 am!

DD can get ready by herself and has since she was 5. Teeth need a going over occasionly, but generally I can put DS to bed and drop into her to read her story. She is very very independent though.

Mortified has a point. DD (10) still gets micromanaged into bed simply because we're upstairs looking after younger DCs and they all have stories together.

However, if there's something special on telly at around bedtime then we do a deal; she can watch it after having a bath and getting into her PJs, have her warm milk while watching it then sprint upstairs, clean teeth and lights out. I wouldn't advocate TV just before bedtime every night, but as an occasional treat it's quite a good way to practice independence.

seeker

That is lovely, I hope my dd still does this when she is 17. My ds would only ask me if they were worried or needed a chat. if I had suggested it they'd have found it weird.
Maybe its a girl thing, but its very nice.

I started my DD is 5 (almost 6) and has been going to bed by herself for a few weeks.

We have ups and downs with her, but she is mostly independent.

Zombie thread.
The OP's daughter is now 20 years old. She is probably managing her bedtime independently by now.