Different bedtimes for siblings?

[llynnnn]

There is a 3 year age gap between my dd's (8 & 5) dd1 doesn't need as much sleep as dd2 and now she's that bit older we have been pondering letting her stay up on a Saturday night (just until 9ish) to watch a bit of tv with us, but dd2 would go to bed at the normal 7.30. If dd2 heard of this plan she wouldn't be happy at all and would hate to be going to bed before her sister!

During the week we tell dd1 she can read quietly until 8.30 if she'd like to and if she's not tired which she does most evenings.

Just wondered how others dealt with bedtimes as your children get older?
Thanks

ds (7) goes to bed earlier than dd (10). On weekdays ds bedtime is 8.30pm and dd is 9pm. At weekends it is 9.30pm and 10pm respectively

I think if you are going to have bedtimes then you should definitely differentiate between ages otherwise it's always going to seem unfair to the older child .

Thanks for the reply. Have you always done staggered bedtimes? Does your youngest complain at all?

I have a 5 year age gap. Mine always had separate bed times. The older one needed the "grown up time" with us.

Yes I agree floral, however dd1 has never needed a later bedtime until just recently and dd2 is not happy about it and feels very hard done by

Thanks hakluyt, feel we have made a rod for our own backs by having the same bedtime up until now...

mine just accept it tbh.

Mine are 3, 7 & 10. Dd1 goes to bed at 8.30/9, while Ds & dd2 go up at 7.30. Dd1 has always needed less sleep, but we started the staggered bedtime when she went in to year 3 at school and it has gradually gone a little later.

Ds is now in year 3, but he still needs more sleep, especially as he wakes at 6am whatever time he goes to bed, so we will leave his bedtime as it is at the moment.

Another one with staggered bedtimes although they still share a bedroom. My two are 7 and 10 and generally go up at 8ish and 8.30-8.45. DS2 sometimes moans but it doesn't get him anywhere as it's only fair that his older brother stays up later now he's getting older.

They often go up together at the weekends as they can go to bed anywhere from 8.30pm (if they're watching dvds in bed) or 11pm if we're seeing friends.

Mine have always had different bedtimes and still do. Its nice to spend sone time with the older one and he usually comes out with something he hadn't told us before. There's 3 years between mine too.

Thanks for all the replies. We are going to have to have a proper chat with dd2 about it and set it out to her! Sure she'll get used to it...in time!

How did your chat go? Just interested as we've never had a chat about it with our dd, it's just what happens

Remember the line to younger child: "When (older child) was your age he went to bed at this time so it IS fair".