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Parenting

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Original poster

when does/did your 2 y.o. go to bed?

22 replies

paperdress · 10/12/2013 21:37

Am starting to wonder if things could be improved; bit of background...

I am a SAHM to 2 y.o. twins. They have always been pretty good sleepers and most especially seem to enjoy their daytime nap, which they show no signs of wanting to drop. They sleep 1.5 hours after lunch with me waking them up (if i didnt they would sleep 2-2.5 hours). I like this break in a otherwise intense day on my own with 2 toddlers as i get to do chores and rest a bit too.

They lead active little lives with various activities; we go out at least once every day unless they are ill, or else we all get cabin fever.

They have always been late-ish risers (which suits me, tbh) and get up at 7.45am but this, along with their daytime nap, means their bedtime is 8.45pm. I realise from speaking to other mums that this seems to be later than most kids their age. I also get cats-bum-mouth attitude from some older relies about this late bedtime, which i have always been defensive about, but there is of course a part of me that wishes they were down at 7.30 pm and i had more of an evening.

Apologies for the micro detail here but i am really interested to know if people think i should tinker with anything and especially if anyone else had/has a similar late bedtime at this age and if/when it altered or if you were bothered?
TFR.

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bubblesausage · 10/12/2013 21:40

My 2 yo is in bed for 7.30 and wakes around 8.00am but doesn't have a nap. 8.45 does sound late to me, but I'm used to having my evening once dd is in bed. If it works for you and you're happy with it, why change!

georgedawes · 10/12/2013 21:42

If it works for you, who cares what others think?

My dd went to bed at 7 at that age, but she'd given up her daytime nap, even though I would've preferred her not to.

You must have a lot on your plate with toddler twins, just ignore everyone and their well meaning advice!!

BarberryRicePud · 10/12/2013 21:49

DS was asleep for 630 at 2yo. But he woke at 5. We tried and tried to push him to sleep later in the morning including using a later bedtime but it failed spectacularly.

You may find you have to tinker a bit when they start preschool to get them up in time, but otherwise don't bother! You have a system that works for you.

And don't drop that nap. Not until it interferes with them going to sleep. DS was still having 2-3hrs naps at that stage. I miss nap time. A lot.

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FionasFatFairy · 10/12/2013 21:49

I'm currently returning my 3 year old to bed as she's "not tired mummy" although she obviously is and I am sick of her going to bed with me, at the same time as me.

DH got moaned at yesterday when he collected her from nursery as she had fallen asleep when practising their Christmas show and had an accident. So this week I am bribing her by saying she needs to not fall asleep on Friday during the show.

Ragwort · 10/12/2013 21:51

Do what suits you, it suited me for my DS to go to bed at 7pm - from age 0 - 9 . He woke earlyish (6.30am) but that suited our family as we are all early risers.

No one need know what time your children go to bed ....... but if you want more evening time on your own then change their routine.

Kyrptonite · 10/12/2013 21:53

6-6:30pm. She still does at 3.6. I like having evenings to myself

jimeyrose · 10/12/2013 21:57

My nearly 2 yo DD wakes between 7.30 - 8.00 am. If she naps, even for 15 mins during the day she will not go to sleep until 8.30 - 9.00 pm. However, over the last couple of weeks she has started to drop her nap and on those days she is asleep by 6.45 pm.
I vastly prefer the days when she doesn't nap!

ceeveebee · 10/12/2013 22:01

I also have 2 yo twins. On working days we wake them at 7am and they sleep for 2 hours at about 130-330, then bed at 7-730. On weekends or non-working days it's all shifted by an hour or so, wake at 8am and bed at 8pm ish.
Whatever works for you though!

BaileysOnRocks · 10/12/2013 22:01

My 2.6 year old and 7 month old are both in bed for 7pm and wake around 7am.

My 2 year old doesn't really nap in the day but if your twins need one maybe wake them earlier in the morning and put them down for an earlier nap.

Bigfingers · 10/12/2013 22:03

7.15ish, another one who likes her evenings here. kids up by 6.30am, but need to be anyway.

ime you can't have it both ways - evenings or mornings, not both. choose whichever you prefer. Personally I would be worry about messing with a good routine and potentially altering their good-sleeper status...

AnyFuckerWillDo · 10/12/2013 22:05

Is a little late but I'd have your routine over mine. My 2yo goes to bed at 19.30 and up at 6am with no daytime nap x

cravingcake · 10/12/2013 22:07

DS is only just 2 and generaly goes to bed about 8pm, but just last week we moved him to his 'big boy toddler bed' in his new bedroom (expecting DC2 in 6 weeks) and he's been unsettled so i've ended up sitting with him until he is almost asleep, which some evenings is 9.30pm. He is currently waking about 5.30am and still has between 1-2 hrs daytime nap.

I would prefer him to go to bed earlier and sleep a bit later but it works for us for now.

AgathaPinchBottom · 10/12/2013 22:08

8/8.30/9 if he's had a nap, if no nap antime between half six and half seven. My DS is up at five if he naps and is ghastly if he doesn't nap. It all changes day by day tbh.
Sounds like you've got it sorted.

KatOD · 10/12/2013 22:10

My 2yo goes down 7-7:30 and is usually up 6-6:30 and she'll still nap for a couple of hours during the day around lunchtime-ish.

Stuff what other people think if your twins are happy and healthy, but (try to) change it if you want to, but good luck with that!

Jiltedjohnsjulie · 11/12/2013 07:58

At 2 both of mine had a 1-1.5 hour nap and were in bed by 7pm. They got up at 6am though.

youaremychocolatecake · 11/12/2013 09:26

Ive always done bath at 7, quiet time/story and in bed by 8. Since he started school I relax it slightly on weekends. Waking up times vary but I normally have to wake him at 7.30 - he is 4. I actually think he could do with going to bed earlier as he sometimes gets overtired but I keep him up til 8 as I work (well I did, on maternity) and his dad works 5,6, sometimes 7 days so we like to spend some the together in the evenings X

roweeena · 11/12/2013 10:11

27 months - sleeps 1.5-2.5 hours in the day ( which I love as I have a 9 week old) bedtime 7.30-8pm and he usually wakes between 6-7am

absentmindeddooooodles · 11/12/2013 10:13

I think if it works for you then leave it as it is!

My 2.9 yo ds is a terrible sleeper and always has been. Right now im just managing to get him to sleep by 10pm most nights. ( after hours of trying :/) and hes awake at 5. ( I refuse point blank to gwt up before 630)

Rarely a daytime nap.

Although he doea go to nursery one day a week and is usually in bed by 8.30 on that daym I love mondays :)

Maebe · 11/12/2013 10:16

Bed 7.30/7.45, out of bed 12 hours later. Only has about an hour's nap now.

If you want more of an evening to yourself then it might be worth slowly moving the bedtime forward by 5 minutes a day, say, and see how that works?

FunnyFestiveTableRunner · 11/12/2013 10:21

Roughly 8 till 8/9. Works for us as I am NOT an early riser!

FunnyFestiveTableRunner · 11/12/2013 10:21

(But a poor napper - always has been).

xCupidStuntx · 11/12/2013 10:29

I was in your exact situation up to just a few weeks ago. My DD is now 2 and a half and bedtimes were getting later and more difficult, I never thought I'd survive without my break during the day but I've cut out the nap completely and I actually find it gives me much more freedom during the day. We've been doing much more and able to venture much farther afield.
Now we go up to bed at 7, book etc and she's asleep by half 7 and up at 8am.

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