What is a reasonable bed time for a 4 yo?

[Giddypants]

Just that really, DS is 4, he has cerebral palsy so until November he co slept and bf at night. Since November I have. Managed to stop bfing took 3 nights of Whining but not overly bad, then about a month later moved him into the cot at the side of my bed, again took a few nights to adjust but was ok, he comes over to my bed at around midnight for a cuddle and will stay there until about 6am.

He used to sleep until 8:30 ish very rarely got up before then, which was fine for me, but just lately he's been waking more in the night and harder to settle, asking for the curtains to be opened and go downstairs etc at 5am!

I've just cut his afternoon nap out and he is dog tired come 6pm, he used to go to bed at around 9-9:30 but now he's getting into a more normal sleep pattern I want him to have a better bed time, is 8 too late?

My four year old goes to bed at 7-7:30.

So 8pm isn't necessarily to late, sounds like a bit of a transition period from nap to no nap etc.

If waking too early would a group clock or something similar help? :)

My 4yo goes to bed at 6:45pm and then has two stories so normally asleep by about 7:10/7:15pm. I think amount of sleep required varies massively between people - we have to peel DD out of bed most mornings so I wouldn't want her going to bed much later!

What is a group clock? we've not really done time with him so I don't think he'll get the concept of telling the time.

Also I'm pregnant, so would really like him to stay in his cot. He settles really well, (so much better than expected)but he has difficulty settling himself back off again, has always needed something (boob) to settle him.

He is still tired during the day, which is partly due to his condition, he uses much more energy that a 'normal' child and given half the chance would still go for an hour of so nap given the opportunity, but with the restless nights and the early waking I want him to have more restful nights, instead of relying of day sleep