What average age to children take themselves to bed?

[totaleclipse]

?

DS1 was about 7, IIRC.

My DS often takes himself up to bed & he's 7.

Ds1 does sometimes - he's just coming up to 6. Would usually follow him a few mins later to tuck in.

I leave ds to put himself to bed - he is just 8. I usually tell him a time he can read to as well.

ds1 9 mostly does - it's me that's trying to hang on to a story and cuddle at bedtime
ds2 (6) is perfectly capable of getting ready, getting himself some milk, toothbrushing etc by himself and without prompting but he and I still both like to snuggle up and have a 'proper' bedtime routine. So weekends they sort themselves out, weekdays I dip in and out of their bedtime things.

dd1 does, she's 6, dd2 (5) will sometimes.

I wouldn't expect any of my children to take themselves off to bed. We expect them to grow up to fast these days and bed time is the one time you get personal time with your child to discuss the day or maybe even some concerns they have.

I remember my mum read to us every night for AGES, I must have been about 10 I think when she stopped this part of the bedtime routine! I guess it's a case of them doing more of their own personal care, washing, getting into pyjamas, etc, but I fully intend to be sitting on DS bed chatting and reading to him, until he kicks me out basically.

I remember being read to with great fondness and it was good, close time for me and mum.

I read to my dd for years,well past the age she could read them faster than me.Think we tucked her in until she was about 9-10,maybe even later.She's 15 now and her bedroom depresses me.

I feel the same way Sunnysideup, I enjoy my DD's bedtime routine. I like helping her wind down. I'll do it for as long as she wants.

Mine do. We have a cuddle on the sofa and then they disappear off together (all share a room) Me or DH go in at 8.30 to turn the lights off, and they get another kiss and cuddle then. They are 9 (on friday!), 6 and 3. I didn't make them do it, DS1 started doing it, and the other two just follow.

ds1 does it if I don't watch him like a hawk after tea. Then he wakes up at 3am and is ready to start the day! He is 3, but has been like this ever since he could get upstairs.

We read stories at other times. I go to work when they go to bed half the week so it isn't really something that we've got in the habit of doing. DS1 and DS2 do take turns reading aloud, so DD doesn't just have to look at pictures I've worked evenings since DS2 was a baby so we've just never managed to do a bedtime routine, and spacewise it's easier to read in the front room than in their room.

I agree it's nice to have a bedtime routine but my 6yo is the oldest of 3 and so it is quite convenient that at least sometimes she puts herself to bed, similary with my 5yo. They don't do it every night but it's very useful sometimes.

aah I see serenity...sorry to be so nosey, I guess that it was such an important thing for me with my mum at bedtime I want everyone to do it, but you obviously do, just at more convenient times! Not to do with you of course but I do hate to think of kids who don't have their parents read to them at all, it's so important.

I put all 3 of my children to bed and I don't always enjoy it. In fact am often tired and shouting at them to hurry up. Always have quiet time when they are in bed though. ds1 is 7.5 and capable theoretically of doing everything himself but has SN which means I have to stand over him for every single bit. I usually start with dd who is 4.10 and let her do everything but lots of prompting and we have a story. ds1 is so late that we rarely have stories these days - as its often running into my bedtime! Ii try to do stories other times but he doesn't seem to enjoy reading at school so doon't force it. lastly ds2 18 months just fits in wherever he can - wondering how I am gong to manage the routine when he is older..

I take mine to bed and cuddle them until they fall asleep in Ds1's bed, then I lift DS2 into hs bed. I ask them 2 things they like about their day and they tell me about Nursery/school and we read a story, then they are asleep within minutes. DS3 is still tiny so he fits in. I guess in time they will want to put themselves to bed and have their own space but for now I love the snuggly bedtime.

A benefit of this is that I can sneakily bring their bedtime forward, a drawback that I have been known to fall asleep with them and not want to get up again!

I still go up with dd who is 9. I usually have a pile of stuff to put away so do that while she's teeth-cleaning then go into her room and "tuck her in". She reads to herself so I give her a kiss, say ggonight and leave her to put her own light out.
If she comes down to the loo (we don't have one upstairs) dh will go back up with her (I refuse to!)

ds3 has been doing it since he was 5

Ds is 12 and we have a cuddle on the sofa then kiss goodnight and then dp goes up EVERY night to tuck him in He won't let dp off this duty and we joke he will be like ronnie corbett in Sorry!

DD1 and DD2 (4 and 3) both go upstairs and get pyjamas on themselves (assuming I have remembered to put the clean washing away), I usually go upstairs and supervise them brushing their teeth and then we have a story, which we all love.

I have to say that it doesn't look too far off before DD1 will be happy to do it all herself, but I do love our bedtimes.

Having said that, I was very ill the other week, awful flu, and DD1 took charge and told me to stay on the sofa whilst she got herself and DD2 into bed [proud smiley]

i think i threw mine up at around 5yrs told them to sort htemselves out settle down be quiet then i went up and sang to them. yes indeedy. stories occasionally and usually out of my head. becuase thats the best way me thinks. my nan did it with me - many tales of made up fancy.

but i usually took requests kareoke style. 3 song limit.

i kinda miss that. now i say " its 10pm" get yer arse upstairs.

Well, I'm amazed! My children are 11 and nearly 8 and still expect a bedtime story each night. Dd(11) still sits on my knee, but she's so big that my leg often goes to sleep if she's not quite in the right place! What's more, when we have babysitters, we expect them to do the honours too, and dd is somewhat miffed if it doesn't happen.