Bedtimes

[csmm]

Read this article on the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23223751

My DS has always had a bedtime of 7pm, only recently moved to 7.30 (he's now 7), partly because he's an impossible child the next day if he's been up later. Even if he's had a late night he'll never sleep in.

DD (7 weeks) seems to prefer later nights naturally. We've been trying to instill an 8pm bedtime, but it's always at least 9 before she sleeps. I was going by 'what suits each individual child', but now I'm wondering...

I think you are doing the right thing. The article seemed to be about preschool age and up, your DD is still able to sleep lots in the day, so her actual bed time at night is far less relevant. At that age I think going with whatever works is the way forward.

My DS certainly went to bed later as a baby than he did when he was older. Once getting up in the morning, and staying awake all day becomes part of their normal day, I think that is when bedtime becomes more important.

They provided very few details of how they "controlled" for the other things which are correlated with later bedtimes, but are better established as links for poor child performance. A slight mistake in that "controlling" (ie changing some numbers to hopefully tease out a difference) can have a big effect.

As everyone knows more people drown when a lot of ice cream is sold, but I don't think Mr Whippy is drowning kids.

Being involved and caring with your child is going to have a much larger effect than a bed time.