Bedtime routine

[BrutusMcDogface]

Hi all!

I have 4 kids ranging from 8 years old to newborn.

I'm struggling with bedtimes st the moment; they are fraught to say the least. I'm on my own as partner works late.

Any hints and tips?! Timings etc?

Thanks!

Mine are now 6-11 (nearly 12), and I put them all to bed at the same time. Ideally, we go upstairs at 8pm and I spend about 10 mins with each child individually. Everyone is in various stages of getting ready for bed. At this time they must find something calm in their bedroom to do. Dd2 10 ASD will usually have a long shower. It’s a more difficult time of the day for her. Younger two usually are asleep by 9 and older two will read, draw do something quiet til they go to sleep. This has been the pattern for many years going to bed at the same time. It doesn’t mean sleep for the older ones - just downtime.

Thank you imip!

I have two sharing a room and have been trying to get the younger one asleep before the big one goes up otherwise there is no sleep!

Yes, mine also share (older two now separate because of sleep issues associated with ASD). I’d read books to older ones and breast feed new born when younger). Now my 8yo will fall asleep first, 6yo (sharing and also ASD with difficulties getting to sleep) will just read or play quietly while waiting for sleep to come. Older two will often read together/draw/colour in quietly in the same room till it is time for their 10mins. In reality, this process can take up to half an hour. But it is a very routine-based approached, which suits having two kids with ASD and a larger family in general.

It’s not always a rosy bedtime, but we keep to the routine of sending them up to their rooms and helping them to chill out before bed. Hopefully leading to good sleep hygiene in the future! We have lots of sleep issues due to ASD so need to stick to this. Luckily some of them are big readers and even bigger drawers, but they also do things like Lego, play with dolls (all dds) and it’s cool as long as they are playing quietly.

Congrats btw!

Thanks again imip! Lots to think about.

I only wish my older two could do anything quietly together, ha!