Bedtime routine older kids

[threeboysandus]

I have three boys aged 10,9 and 4.5.

They used to have great sleep routines when younger and went to bed at 7pm every night but now they have got older I'm slacking a bit.

I'm struggling to get them all to bed on time!

Youngest usually takes until 8:30 to settle and then I bring other s up but could sometimes be nearly 10pm by the time they are asleep!

I tried tonight to start a new routine. The plan was...

6pm bath for 4yr old
6:30 bed and story
7pm youngest asleep, older boys to shower
8pm 10/9 yr old to bed

9pm everyone asleep!

It's now 8pm and youngest still isn't asleep (although is starting to settle)

Older boys still down stairs!

How do people do it?!

Some dc just need less sleep (I have one of these myself)

Who shares bedrooms with who ?

Why does the little one need so long for his bedtime routine ?
I'd have though 10mins bath would be plenty, (say 15 with teeth and a bit of faffing), and 10mins tops for story.

What are the older ones doing whilst downstairs?

Would it be worth them having a 'calming down' 30mins or so before they are actually expected to go to bed ?

Is there another adult ? Anyone able to supervise / interact with the older 2 whilst the younger one is being put to bed upstairs ?

I only have two (age 9 and 12), they go upstairs about 8pm to get ready for bed and if they are reading quietly in their rooms then lights out is 9.30pm. They are quite capable of getting themselves sorted at this age.

I would suggest get the older ones to get into PJS, brush teeth etc around 7 while you are bathe the 4yo. If they are behaving then they can watch a TV programme for half an hour while you settle the little one. Then they go up at eg 8pm and read quietly in bed until lights out.

Well when I said 30 mins for bath I mean bath brush teeth get into pjs etc. the youngest and middle share a room so that once youngest is asleep I can bring others up. It was 10 again by the time They fell asleep. Now they aren't tired the next day, I just would prefer to have them asleep and all by 9pm just to give me more time.

The older boys watch tv while I'm putting youngest down. Dp and I both work shift work so it tends to be one or the other here doing it

Would it work better to have the two that are close in age sharing, and the one you want to go to bed earlier, in a room on his own ?

I would say definitely have the 9 and 10 year old in a room together and little one in by himself. It makes so much more sense.

I would ban the TV in the evening, all sorts of studies about how that doesn't help sleep.

I would have little one bedtime between 6pm-7pm as you have.

Older ones downstairs, but no TV.

7:30pm Dc2 shower, PJ's, bed for reading or other very quiet, calm activity (drawing/jigsaw etc)

7:45pm DC1 shower, PJ's, bed for reading etc.

8:30pm/9pm lights out.

The reason I put the eldest in a room on his own is that he is quite 'high energy' and would only be messing and distracting ds2. They shared a room before and while it wasn't too bad there was a lot of chatting and giddiness at bedtime. I'll try cutting out the tv, I'm just aware that the two older ones often end up either fighting or up to mischief if left alone together so thought it would be easier to have them quiet watching tv