Do your 5 and 9 year olds have separate bedtimes? And if so, how do you organise your evening?

[Hidethesausage]

DH works late each weekday night and I work ft then do tea, bath, bedtime. So far, I've got away with them both going upstairs to bed at 7.30, DD9 reading while I read DS5 a story, then me reading to her, resulting in them both being asleep by 8pm on a school night. I'm aware that this is becoming too early for DD however. Just wondering how I can organise my evening. How do you do it?

Hi, I have children the same age (plus a 3 year old) and my dh often works away. 7-7.30 for bath/showers then the older 2 sit on their beds reading or drawing whilst I put dd3 to bed. By the time stories etc are read it's about 8.30. dd1 will then read until 9.30ish. She's good and is happy to just put her light out when she's ready. She wakes about 7.30. it works well - a year ago I used to put her light out and tell her to sleep but she just couldn't so would end up coming downstairs talking or finding a way to stall bedtime. She's happier and I get a longer evening !

We have a 5yo and 10yo and though there are 2 parents we aim to have 5yo bath, read to, teeth done etc and in bed for 7 (early riser). From that point onwards, the 10yo is in her room with radio on either reading or playing quietly with something like Sylvanians. She goes to bed by 8:30 as she needs the sleep too!

Do they bath together if so you could separate them there? With our DSC (same ages but obviously we have them less time) shower youngest, bath, take her out and do teeth put oldest in the bath, read to youngest and put to sleep, make sure oldest is washed out of bath and teeth brushed he read in front room and sneak him into their room about 45 mins after youngest

My 4, 8+9 year olds go at the same time (8)

Yes.

Aim for both to be upstairs by 6.30, with 6yo bathed and in bed by 7.00, lights out 7.30. 9yo reads / plays / does music practise while 6yo is in bath, then does her own bath, teeth, hair. I finish reading with 6yo and got to 9yo's room for a chat, then she can read / play until 8.30.

I have a 9 year old, a 6 year old and. 2 year old. I make sure they are all bathed and fed by 7pm. We snuggle down with 2 year old. 7.30 2 year old is in bed. Chill out time for older 2. Both in bed by 8.30 on a school night. I have their door open a bit and the landing light in. Their bunk beds are by the door. I allow a little reading before they go to sleep from the light on he landing. All 3 children share a room and my partner works nights so I barely home at bed time.

I found this worked because my 9 year old is really big on routine, has been since he was a baby. My 6 year old likes staying up a bit later. He is usually last to fall asleep. If I put my older 2 to bed when my 2 year old is awake. She would shout at them for hours and no one would get any sleep. So I have to wait till she is asleep first.