Are you strict about bedtimes?

[Bomper]

I have always been on the 'Yes' side of the arguement, mainly because if my children don't get a good nights sleep they are good for nothing the next day and also, let's face it, as much as I love the little buggars, it's nice to have a few hours 'adult' time with just me and dh, to have a glass of wine, watch a dvd etc. However, it seems to me that I am in the minority, I have just seen my neighbours three year old out in her front garden with her mum, whilst my eight year old has been in bed since 8 o'clock!!! Just wondered what the mumsnet mums (and dads) thought!!

What are they doing at this time of the night???

Dd's always in bed around the same time each night, apart from very special occasions.

I need the evening to myself to maintain my sanity.

totally agree with you - for the sanity of all in the house - mine (3) & (17 months)are in bed by 8pm & will continue to do so for the foreseeable future!

Yes I am strict, even on the odd night (like tonight) that they refuse to sleep, they are not allowed out of thier rooms.

yes! i need a life, too.

Yes very, because my kids need to sleep or they turn into grumpy monsters the next day. However, in this heat I think bedtime is difficult to enforce. I certainly cannot sleep, so I am letting them stay up later until it has cooled down. They are asleep now, but can hear neighbours kids still out in the garden and their bedtime is normally 8ish.

Between 7 and 8.30 I aim for, depending on what they have done all day, how ratty they/I am.
Need to have at least an hour or two where noones talking in my ear.

my two go to bed around 8pm ish ad they are 6mths and 2yrs. However sometimes let ds stay up later if he has had a late nap but no later then 9 unless we are at a party etc. Like while camping he was up till gone 10.

Bedtime is cast in stone in this house - 5 year old dd goes up for a story shortly before 7 every night, and is tucked up in bed within about 20 minutes. She needs the sleep, she needs the routine - whatever else is going on, bedtime is sacrosanct. I'm waiting for her to dig her heels in when she notices that the kids whose garden backs onto ours are still out playing at 11 every evening though ... but she hasn't yet!

Yes I am very strict. 7 - 7.30pm bedtime for both, 7 year old DD gets to read until 8. After 7.30 I turn into an evil shrew if I hear the patter of small feet down the stairs into my territory (unless they are ill)

Bedtime is 7.30 here. No flexibilty except very special occasions.
They rarely go to sleep before 9, but are always in their rooms from 7.30. The rule is if I can't hear you, you can play, otherwise lights off and into bed.

We did have a 5 yr old neighnour knock at 8 a few weeks ago wanting mine to play out. Mine are 5 and 7, and were in bed.

I have always been strict at bedtime and am constantly surprised at how many people aren't.

I have an 8, 6 and 3 yr old and they are all in bed by 8 at the latest unless we are out for some reason or something. Dd1 was reading until 8.30 but started being a pain in the morning so it's 8pm again.

My neighbours 8 yr old dd gets put to bed around 9 and then spends most of the night up and down the stairs and then ends up in her mum and dads bed.

Next doors kids all go to bed when their mum and dad do too.

I couldn't stand it, I need some time with no wittering to unwind.

Yes! Even in the holidays.

The only rule I have about bedtime is that it is when I say so. I can tell when ds1 is tired, so that is when he goes to bed. It has been very late this week because this house is like an oven!

I am usually but this weather has put paid to that. I can't put them up there in this heat even with fans on so I've let it slide this past few weeks and they've been going about an hour later than usual. I love my evenings too much to want the kids up til 10pm!

Oh my god yes. It's completely non-negotiable and will be until they leave home!! Ds's are 4 and 2 and both are in bed by 7.15pm. Ds1 tends to have his light on and reads probably for half an hour, but then falls asleep. Once they're in bed that's it, and they can't get out of bed until we tell them they can in the morning!

7pm or earlier in our house, dd1 (3.5yrs) has just started full days at playgroup and sometimes is begging to go at 6pm!

dd2 (22 months) has been a huge pain and is sometimes still refusing to go up till 9pm . However, since Monday I have been firm and put her in her cot and have been spending 90 mins running up and down the stairs saying 'no, it's bedtime' 300 times, grrrrrr.

Am hoping for peace soon.

Our neighbour's child is up till 10 or later and is not yet 2!

Am hoping this will last a few days

Always have been strict about this - and as the routine is so ingrained now, i don't mind relaxing it every so often.

Normally DD (nrly 3) in bed & asleep between 6-6:30pm
DS (nrly 6) in bed by 6:30pm - sleeps when he does! but he knows he's not allowed back downstairs. Weather affecting him at moment.

Yes both of mine are lights out at 7.30 pm. Those of you who are letting your children stay up later because of the heat aren't they really grumpy next day? My DS is awful without enough sleep. He did end up having a couple of late nights the other weekend and I had to send him for a 1.5 hour nap on the Saturday lunchtime. If he coped better I would be more lenient at weekends.

Yes insanely, teutonically strict. I have never understood those people who allow their kids to stay up until 10pm, I figure I need my time alone, which is not work and not kids, and that gap between when the children go to bed and I go to bed is that time. How do those people do without it? I would go round the bend.

Having said that, bedtime is between half an hour to an hour later in summer because of the light and they physically don't need as much sleep as in winter. Also I enjoy their company when we're sitting in the garden.

Usually yes, other than special circumstances like illness, heat etc

Bozza - my dd seems to be sleeping more after lunch so it balances out I think. I still put her to bed at the normal time, I only occasionally get her up again if she's having trouble drifting off.

Yes my dd 2.5 is in bed by 8pm every night and sleeps through to 8am every morning.

When she goes to full time nursery though her bed time will be 7.30 as she will need to get up earlier to get ready for school.

Yes, I am. All 3 of mine need their sleep. DD (3y10m) is in bed at 7pm every night, unless a special occasion. DS1 (14) and DS2 (12.5) are always in bed, lights out for 9.30 - 9.45 on a weeknight, as they are up at 6.45 in the morning. At weekends/non school nights I'm much more flexible with their bedtime - they can have lights out whenever they want, but be up in their rooms after 9.30 - 10pm (so DH and I can get 5 minutes to ourselves).

ProfY - I find that DD can handle the odd late night because of still having a daytime nap (she is 2.1) but my DS is 5 and at school and always needed a lot of sleep.

DS2 (nearly 5) is in bed by 7.15 whenever circumstances allow, but Mondays and Fridays (swimming and karate) it's not feasible, so we go for as early as possible.

DS1 (nearly 8) is in his room by the time I put DS2 to bed, I read with him until 8.00/8.15, and then he is allowed to read or write quietly until 9.00. He could do with more sleep, I know, but I cannot force him to sleep even if I turn out the light earlier - he just lies in bed talking to himself. Right now with the light and heat he is dreadful and awake till 10.00. But he is not allowed out of his room.