Do some children go to bed without stories?

[IlanaK]

I was just wondering about this tonight. It is an integral part of the bedtime routine of my 4 year old, and even my 1 year old has just started having stories before bed. My 4 year old looks forward to it so much. In fact, it is the ultimate sanction to take away one story for bad behaviour (he gets three stories each evening).

Do your children go to bed without having stories? And if so, why? I am not criticising anyone, but am curious if everyone does it.

Me too. Don't care if that makes me middle class Ds1 is at the age where he'll happily read by himself at night. At the moment I read him a chapter of whatever book he's on, I refuse to relinquish that special time just yet and I will be so sad when he finally tells me he'd rather read it himself. Luckily I have ds2 bringing up the ranks - we've just started on Dr Seuss and have all those lovely Roald Dahls etc. to go...

Dd1 has always had a bedtime story. She is now 7 and an avid reader herself but I (or dh) will still read her a chapter of a book at bedtime (a different book from whichever one she is currently reading herself).
DD2 is only 4 months but will have a bedtime story when she is ready - at the moment she sometimes sits with us when we read dd1's story (if she's not too tired).

Oi then, get over to my 'what to read to nearly four year old boy thread' then!

Sadly ds has just stopped wanting a story at the grand old age of very nearly two. Have been reading to him since he was very tiny (he loved the Amazing Baby book) and story has been part of bed time routine since he was about six months old. He used to demand 'again, again' and want at least three books. But over past few weeks has been saying 'no!' very assertively.

Have read to both of mine since about 5 months. DS has always loved his story and whatever kind of mood he was in at bath time etc he would always settle down with his story. DD is 14 months and has got to the point where the story is more important at bedtime than milk. We give her a cup of milk and she is trying to reach over to the shelf for a book.

mine has at least 4 stories every night, she has had virtually since birth so I guess we have made a rod for our own back

I would aloha, but I can't find it!

Mine often go to bed without stories. Just so exhausted by then and if I'm working then I need to get my tea and get on with work. Dh sometimes does stories with them. It's difficult because as they are going to bed, ds3 who is 10 months is screaming for his milk and bed too.

We read in the day though sometimes.

I really don't think it's the be all and end all - I'm a SAHM so I'm with them all day chatting anyway. I think if I went out to work and only really saw them in the evening it would be different.

My 4 yr old, is not at all interested in stories at bedtime, so instead we just have a chat about what we did that day abd what we will do tomorrow.

DTS 20 months, I think very soon will be big on bedtime stories.

My dd is obsessed with 'storwies' at 17 months. she mostly associates them with dp though who is really only home at weekends mostly. when he is she follows him around chanting 'storwy, storwy, storwy'

...... however they don't seem to calm her before bed. at bed time she chants...' soong, soong, soong'

and she gets one of my fantastic renditions of Blue Velvet or Bright Eyes or Windmills of my mind. lucky lucky girl!

Malorytowers - lovin your name. wanna be thetwinsatstclares now.

My 15 month old goes to bed without stories. He has books read to him during the day.

If he had stories as well it would elongate a bed time routine that I frequently have to do single handedly still further (dh is rarely home until late).

He gets some warm milk and a quick hug and kiss. Dd (3 next Tuesday) gets 3/4 books.

As it is they are not 'out of my hair' until 20.30 ish.

When he is a little older I plan to combine their bed time books - but not really practical as yet.

Of course they do!
My three for starters