What age did you stop taking your child upto bed every night?

[Tortoise]

DS1 is 11 and i think he should now be taking himself to bed more often and not needing me to follow him up every night. I don't mind still going up and saying night and turning off his light sometimes, just not every night.

He says it's not fair because i take DS2 9 up to bed still.

I would probably stop when he wants you to. He will let you know soon enough I would imagine!

I'd make the most of it, won't be long before they're telling you to knock before you go in and they're too big for tucking in. I'm dreading those days. Actually I'm already dreading empty nest syndrome. (eldest 6, youngest 5mths)

Make the most of it, and he's right, it's not fair when his brother's only 24 months younger!

My 5 and 7 year old both go to bed alone.

DC1 has a half way house arrangement these days. I did wonder if he would ever go to bed on his own/how long we had to do the whole fairly drawn out bedtime routine with him. He is happy enough to follow his routine through on his own most nights - with promopts and he usually gets a story time either for him to read to me or we read to him and if its 'one of those days' I can sometimes get away with just tucking him in and saying goodnight.

Depends really, sometimes he is depsperate for contact others he would rather do something himself. I like to try to encourage some independence though s I don't mind this. Would be sad if we never read together though.

I think its sad that you dont want to do this...why do you think he should take himself?
I still go and tuck mine in and all that stuff and one is 13!!

I could have written the same OP!! My 2 are the same ages and sometimes I do get a bit annoyed if I'm having my dinner or something and the older one says "come on then Mum it's bedtime"..It has become more difficult after he has insisted that he go to bed later than his younger sibling on account of being older. To be fair he also needs some winding down time after doing homework etc which the younger one does not have yet. So he now goes at about 9pm.

Our compromise is that I leave him at the door with a hug (if he accepts it!)and he puts his own light out once he has done all his pre bed faffing about

ermm DS1 started early last ear when he was 7, DS2 quickly followed suit and wanted to do the same (at 4) - although I do sort of take DS2 up still as I have to put DS3 in his cot.

DS(13) started around 8-9. If he's still awake and I go in (knocking first of course!) the arms still go up to me for a cuddle

oh no.....dread this, oldest is only 4 i would stop when you get a clear hint/he asks you. if he points out that you still do it with younger sibling he probably doesn't want to be sidelined.

i feel with my children they are so busy all day, lots of people around/distractions etc that the bedtime thing is really important....good memories will come from it.

Mine are all teenagers and I still go with them up to bed, kiss teddies, give out medecine etc. One of our rituals I suppose. Takes ages though...Often I am busy and I hear "Mum, when are you putting me to bed". DS1 is 16!

Thanks for replies.

Lovesdogandcats I am not saying i don't want to do it anymore. I just thought some nights he could go up without me.

I think i am just going through a bad patch! Am so tired at the moment (had keyhole surgery 2 wks ago) and not coping to well with having four kids on my own.

Oh you poor thing! The whole bedtime routine can be so long-drawn out...sometimes I think, Oh god, are the little feckers ever going to bed! (7 & 4 BTW)

Ours are 11 and 13 and take themselves to bed but we still both go up every night to "tuck in" and turn out the lights.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks scamp. That made me smile.
Good to know i'm not the only one to think it sometimes. Mine are 4,5,9 and 11!

Four kids on your own - that's super-tough, ill health or no.