Early bedtime

[Mikeysmummy506]

I started early bedtime (aiming for 7pm) with 15wk old ds last week. I knew from what I'd read that he probably wouldn't take to this straight away and the first 4 nights he either went to sleep at 7pm but needed frequent resettling or took an hour to get to sleep. Then last night we went to a friend's for dinner so the usual routine went out the window, no bath etc, he merrily went to sleep at 6:30pm when I wasn't really trying to get him to sleep and slept for a couple of hours, not at all bothered by us talking, woke up to eat as he'd missed his usual feed, went back to sleep and happily settled when we got home. Tonight we were back to him being very unsettled for the first hour or so. Was yesterday a fluke or am I missing a trick?

They can be a bit unpredictable at that age so don't let it put you off your routine. Maybe aim for a bedtime a little earlier? My little one was usually asleep by 6.15-6.30 at that age and I know that may be a bit early for some but he's now 1 and a brilliant sleeper. He loves his bedtime routine and is we don't have any tears or tantrums at bedtime. I think he likes his sleep as much as me! Getting a good routine was the best thing I did in the early months. Of course all babies are different but this really worked for us.

DS has gone to bed around 6pm since he was about 3 months old (now 16mo) for ages he had his bath at 5.30 and was asleep by 5.45, now we go upstairs at around 6 and he's usually asleep by 6.30 works for us.

Ime (limited) experience it depends to a large degree on the child.

Ds1 was impossible to get to sleep at reasonable time at that age and was sleeping from midnight to 8am with frequent waking earlier than that.

Ds2 is 17 weeks and has been sleeping approx 7-7 since about 10 weeks.

Both had identical routines from birth so go figure

Thanks everyone, maybe I'll try an earlier bedtime in case he's overtired by 7pm, I certainly wouldn't mind if he wanted to go to bed that early!

Mine is 9 months and has had a (self imposed) early bedtime since she was about 10 weeks. She goes to bed at 6.30, 7pm is and always has been too late and results in early waking and overtiredness. If he is trying to get an early bedtime then let him, it's good for them to get lots of sleep before midnight!