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Original poster

How many bedtime stories?

29 replies

roweeena · 28/01/2014 20:29

Do you have a limit? How long does it take you to actually get your 2yr old into bed from getting out of the bath.

DH is on charge of DS1 and seems to read him endless stories (at least half an hr)

I am getting DS2 to sleep (usually feeding for 30mins)

I think DS1 is taking the mickey & I get annoyed because I feel it makes it harder for me to get him to bed when its me doing bedtime on my own. DH can't see the issue.

What's normal in your house?

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Original poster
roweeena · 28/01/2014 20:30

Ps I try to do a two book limit, but then usually give in & give him three

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 28/01/2014 20:31

My 2 year old gets to pick 3. Tonight he chose aliens love underpants, aliens love underpants save the world and pirates love underpants Hmm

BarberryRicePud · 28/01/2014 20:40

When he was 2 it was probably 3/4 stories taking half an hour ish. We've gradually cut that back to 1 story in about 5 mins then a quick chat about the best things that happened that day. He's 3.5 now.

There's no reason why he should have the same when you do bedtime. He'll soon get used to his dad doing lots of stories and you doing 1. Then maybe sing him a quick song or something that makes your bedtime special.

I actually did longer story time when dd was younger (she's 9m now) so I could read stories to DS while bf her to sleep.

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HelenHen · 28/01/2014 20:47

I try and do a story followed by touchy feely book followed by picture book... About 15 mins but sometimes it's just 5 mins! Depends on both of our moods really

Only1scoop · 28/01/2014 20:49

1 story and then a really short made up one about the day. Ten mins in all.

Theincidental · 28/01/2014 20:51

2 stories and then lights out, cuddle and a made up story about good boys who are very tired and need to go to sleep!

PavlovtheCat · 28/01/2014 20:56

DS aged 4 one story with DH. one, maybe two with me if short stories, or a story about the day. DD aged 7 gets a chapter of a novel of some kind if DH is reading, two chapters if DH is enjoying the book too. The whole book if it is Esiotrot Grin If I am reading she gets one story and one about the day with her and DS as the characters.

However, sometimes, we will put them to bed early and snuggle into bed with them, or snuggle on the sofa for a few stories, but that is something we do instead of drawing, watching a film, playing (once a week or so maybe?) Sometimes when DS goes to bed before DD, she will sit up with me and we will read chapters each from a book for about half hour.

Eletheomel · 28/01/2014 21:11

When DS1 was 2 he was still needing us to sit with him until he fell asleep, so generally as I knew I'd be there for an hour or so, I didn't mind reading 5/6 (or many more) stories to fill the time (and sometimes if he was tired he'd nod off when you were reading to him so I'd just keep reading another one).

When he got to age 3 he started going to sleep without us in the room, so that is when the 2 or 3 stories kicked in (and we got our evenings back - hooray :-)

FlyAwayToMalibu · 29/01/2014 13:18

Dd has 3/4 stories, 3 short ones and one longer one. Bedtime starts at 6.30pm with a bath and she's asleep by 7.30pm.

rrreow · 29/01/2014 14:37

Three books/stories. Although certain books I will count one page as a book/story. I usually take 20-30 minutes putting DS1 down. Reading stories, having a cuddle and discussing the day and then some songs. It's a special time to calm down and reconnect for us. If I was with him all day long though I'd probably make it shorter, but I work ft so it's precious 1on1 time!

KatyN · 30/01/2014 08:31

we have two stories and then milk. if the little man is being a bit cheeky he can take a LONG time to drink his milk (the whole thing can take half an hour on a bad night).

Do you think your lo is not getting to bed early enough? could your DH start the process a bit earlier?

k

LittleBearPad · 30/01/2014 08:34

2 or 3. Sometimes 4 in extremis.

We've handed her a book once in bed on a few occasions too. Seems to make her happier about no more stories. We can then see on the monitor that she usually only looks at it for five minutes before snuggling down.

Doitnicelyplease · 30/01/2014 18:32

We usually do 2, but if there is a short one then we might do an extra one. I read that 15-20 mins reading each day is perfect for encouraging reading/love of books, 5 mins is too short (though better than nothing!).

KateMoose · 30/01/2014 22:09

DD is 3. She chooses 2 stories (although she's liking longer ones like the bloody Tailor of Gloucester and she asks questions all the way through) then she has 3 songs, cuddles all the while, into bed proper, another song and sleep.

PogoBob · 30/01/2014 22:13

3yo DD has either 2 or 3 depending on the size of the book. Normally limit the stories to 15 - 20 minutes.

GoldieBear · 30/01/2014 22:19

Ds has one now but it used to be 2/3. If DP is putting him to bed though he doesn't want one because he wants to be a 'big boy'

ReluctantCamper · 30/01/2014 22:20

one story (DS does ask for more but this has never happened - shows optimism I guess), followed by lullaby, then in to bed. I've just taken to warming up his bed with a hot water bottle (which I then remove), which I think helps him drop off quicker. From clothes to PJ's with teeth brushed and in bed takes about 15 mins. DS is 3.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 30/01/2014 22:29

Half an hour or more is normal here, but we sometimes do just one if it has got late or they are really tired.

spritesoright · 30/01/2014 22:40

I was just wondering this tonight. DD didn't get a bath so I did 6 stories (and she made me repeat the last one 3 times). She's 2.4. I have to admit that she knows it's a good way to drag out bedtime but at the same time she is finally more interested in the story so I go along with it.

I think it's probably a good idea to set a number and stick to it but then her counting isn't brilliant so even if I said 4 or whatever that wouldn't mean much.
Then after the stories it's a drink of water, a sing, another song, teddy needs a kiss as infinitum.

spritesoright · 30/01/2014 22:42

Forgot to add that bedtime sometimes takes up to 75 mins if it includes a bath. I can't believe people manage it in 15 minutes! I'm obviously doing something wrong.

nilbyname · 30/01/2014 22:52

Dd (2) gets 2 and we have a little chat about the day.

Ds (5) gets 2 plus his reader from school, a chapter from a novel and then a chat/snuggle.

Both are voracious readers and have amazing verbal skills.

Mamabear12 · 30/01/2014 23:10

I spend about thirty minutes playing legos, reading books etc. just having quality alone time with my first born (almost 2 year old). I put second born (3 months) down at 6:30/7pm. I read anywhere between 2-5 books depending how tired I am. My daughter will agree to go to bed if I let her take a book with her...even thought lights go out. I think she likes having a book and stuffed animals with her for comfort. Plus I know she is up for a bit after I leave the room.

DomesticGoddess31 · 01/02/2014 14:26

DD is 2.7 and we have a 1 book rule. She normally chooses topsy and Tim but if she's v tired I try and steer her to something shorter like Meg and mog. Absolutely NEVER allowed anymore.

BlueChampagne · 01/02/2014 23:49

roweena could have written your post 3 years ago! DH would indulge; I wouldn't. Cue obvious arrival of DS2 and DH was flavour of the month story-wise and was read to sleep even if it rook an hour plus. But it doesn't seem to have done lasting harm, in fact DS1 is now storming through books.

BlueChampagne · 01/02/2014 23:51

We set a time for lights out, so if they drag their feet, they get fewer stories.