What time do your kids *really* go to bed?

[addicted2shopping]

Its 7.30pm and im currently in Ikea with my 4 year old having some dinner in the reateraunt. Then we are going across the road to Tesco to do some shopping. Now, i thought people might look at me as if to say'shouldnt your daughter be in bed at this time?!' but i really wanted to come out as i was so bored indoors. I thought all kids (under the age of 8 anyway) went to bed at 7 because firstly, the Cbeebies bedtime hour is between 6-7 and secondly i see it on tv all the time. Anyway getting to the point... There are loads of kids here some in school uniform and some have gotten changed. Theres at least 10 kids in this resteraunt that i thought would be in bed. Wht time shoud a child be in bed by?? Is 7'oclock what everyone says to just not look bad :)

DD is 7. She is supposed to go to bed at 1930. She generally pushes it out until 2000, and more often than not reads until 2100. Mind you, all her school friends (incl a couple in the year above her) are in bed for 1830 which I think is ridiculously early.

No matter what time DD goes to bed she is never up in the morning later than 0630. She just doesn't need that much sleep. Her big sis was the same until she became an 'orrible teen - so I'm sure I'll be screaming at DD to get out of bed at 1100 in a few years time

mine who are 5 and 4 go to bed between 7.30 and 8, unless we have some specific occassion which does not allow it.
It is important for children to get lots of sleep for their development and growing and it is proven that those who get proper levels of sleep do better at school so i think it is important. Of course all children are different, but i think a routine, winding down period, stories etc is very important to set the right mood for sleep and to know what is expected of them.

DS (7) in bed 8, reads till lights out 8.30, asleep immediately (he's a little angel)
DD (5) does whatever she feels like, bedtime is 7.30ish, she mucks us about till 9 or 10 (bloody-minded).
DS2 (just 2), is asleep by 9. Not necessarily in a bed. He still naps in the day which means he's usually not tired enough for the desired 7.30 bedtime.

We are rubbish at bedtimes

DD is 2.5 and goes to bed at 7pm (roughly) every night. Last night was 6.40pm because she was having a meltdown, clearly tired. If she's had a mini nap in the day (doesn't generally have one), I can see the difference as bedtime gets pushed out to nearer 8pm.

But she's a clockwork sleeper - generally wakes between 7-8am without stirring in the night, so we thank our lucky stars.

I refuse to say on the grounds that it might incriminate me.