Strict or flexible bedtime hour?

[TS123]

I've read two different "expert" opinions on bedtime for babies. One is that it should be at a consistent time every night regardless of how they napped that day, the other is to be flexible and allow a child to go to bed earlier on days when he seems extra tired/when he's napped poorly. I have had trouble with DS (now 14 months) having erratic napping patterns and I've never stuck to a rigid bedtime. (That said, his bedtime would vary by no more than 45 minutes). I've wondered whether sticking to a very strict bedtime hour (never varies by more than 10-15minutes), would help regulate his sleeping patterns during the day? Any thoughts?

P.S. Keeping him up on days when he hasn't napped well is brutal and usually means he sleeps worse that night -- which is why I've always tended to just put him to bed whenever he's tired.

i think it depends on whether you have other children or not - with our first I could afford to have flexible nap and bedtimes as it didn't really matter, but now with 3 I am VERY strict with bedtimes and naps , well, more so with bedtimes.

but in answer to your question - I'd go for the same time each day and on days he hasn't had a nap, try to get him in bed a bit earlier before he falls alseep in his highchair!

I would keep bedtime the same time each day unless baby was showing signs of fatigue. No sense in keeping baby awake as it takes longer for them to settle. 30 mins here or there isn't going to make any difference to wake up times but will make a difference to how well they settle (imo)

ts123
i would keep it the same too, and as you say its bedtime hour, so they may settle for slleep 1/2hr into that hr or at the end of that hr.
but for down the road its definitley benefical to have the child in settled bed routine.

i was always consistent with bedtimes and to the effect that my two now age 5 1/2 and 7 yrs ask to go to bed if it gets past their bedtime and people coming to dinner have always remarked at how well they went to bed and fell asleep very quickly so i would say keep to a strictish bedtime and their bodyclock will thank you for it as they will get used to sleeping a t that time