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Sleep

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Original poster

What's a reasonable time for a 6 year old to go to bed at?

31 replies

Mercedes · 04/10/2007 22:33

We start putting our dd aged 6 to bed just after 7. By the time we've washed, brushed hair and read a book etc its just after 8pm.
The problem is she's staying awake till 9pm before going to sleep. She's just started year 1 and I do feel she needs her rest but I feel a bit mean leaving her lying there, she's not even yawning.
I do value the child free time from 8pm but I wondered what time other 6 year olds go to bed at?
What do other mn do if their child is not sleepy?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

marymoocow · 04/10/2007 22:36

If she's quiet, and happy to be there, then i'd leave her. She is atleast getting rest if not sleep.

But then i'm the mum who sends all 3 dc to bed by 7:30 (oldest is 9 and a half )

haychEebeeJeebees · 04/10/2007 22:37

My 2 are 7 and 4. Both go to bed at the same time at 7.30, every other night they go to bed at 7 and are allowed to watch tv until 8. At weekends its about 8 and are allowed tv in bed.

MamaMaiasaura · 04/10/2007 22:37

ds is 7 1/2 and is usually asleep by 8pm although sometimes 8.30pm.

I lie with him a little while after story time and when he is all relaxed i go. I check on him 10 min later and he is asleep. Does your dd have a light on or toys in bed that keep her awake. An hour is a long time ot lie awake doing nothing in bed.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 04/10/2007 22:37

All my children (including DS3 now) go to bed at 8pm.......always have done.

8pm was the time we decided on for DS1 when we ended up having to CC to get him to sleep. DS2 just followed suit, and I've managed to work DS3's going down for his "long sleep" (he's not sleeping through yet) to 8pm too.

Often the DS1 and DS2 aren't very tired when they go to bed - but they know that they just have to stay in bed (and not talk - haha) until they fall asleep.

I have to say I was mightily relieved when DS3 started settling into the 8pm pattern - as I LOVE having 1 - 1 1/2hrs to myself after the DS's are in bed and before DH comes home from work

bozza · 04/10/2007 22:39

My 6yo (he is Y2) has a 7.30 bedtime - that is lights out, but sometimes it gets extended by 5 or 10 mins if we haven't done his reading book earlier in the evening.

LyraSilvertongue · 04/10/2007 22:42

DS1 is 5 and he goes to bed at 8. I can't see this changing any time soon, except maybe to make bedtime slightly earlier because he gets so tired.

Roobie · 04/10/2007 22:43

My dd who's just started year 1 (6 in April) goes to bed at 6.30pm. We try to start the bathtime rigmarole at 6.30pm anyway and sometimes even earlier if we want to 'get rid of her' for 'us' time! We're normally withdrawing from her room after stories/kisses etc by 7pm. She does tend to muck about in her room for a bit though - sometimes even a couple of hours.

Ecmo · 04/10/2007 22:45

My 6 year old ds has just started going to bed at 8. He generally goes off to sleep very quickly (although I did find him and his older brother still playing cards at 10 when I went up the other night!)
Maybe your dd has alot buzzing round in her head still from school. I agree with marymoocow and would leave her.

crumblingfast · 04/10/2007 22:47

7.30pm, Even if they are not asleep, they are still resting!

PeachesMcScream · 04/10/2007 22:48

We start DS (6) at 8pm and depending on whether he gets a few minutes to look a comic first, usually lights out around 8.30. On a weekend he knows he can get up and watch TV so he's up at 7.15 / 7.30. On a weekday he rolls over and goes back to sleep until I wake him up.

FluffyMummy123 · 04/10/2007 22:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Mercedes · 04/10/2007 23:09

During the summer hols it was 8-8.30 before we put her to bed which menat we didn't get back down the stairs till 9. I wonder if this through out the normal routine.
Although she's got soft toys on her bed she doens't have a light and it's only the bathroom light that's on.
If we gave her an extra 1/2 hour in bed with a lamp on would that help to wind her down do u think?

OP posts:

FluffyMummy123 · 04/10/2007 23:09

Message withdrawn

HuwEdwards · 04/10/2007 23:10

4 and 6yo go at 7:30 - 8pm

Original poster

Mercedes · 04/10/2007 23:21

I have to say she's only ever came down the stairs twice and both times really scared the life out of us when the door opened. She just shouts ' I can't sleep' or 'I'm lonely'.

OP posts:

gigglewitch · 04/10/2007 23:22

DS almost 7 bath 7pm, sleep 8-ish. insists on assorted face / foot massage before settling, but it chills him out beautifully.

Califright · 04/10/2007 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clary · 04/10/2007 23:33

7-ish in theory.

8-ish in fact, often due to swimming (till 6.30 with all of them) or cubs till 8pm (only 8yo DS1 but somehow everyone seems to stay up later).

My ideal is definitely 7pm esp as DS2 is only 4yo but it's really hard sometimes.

twinsetandpearls · 04/10/2007 23:35

My 6 year old goes to bed at 8, I rarely get home from work before 7.30pm so wouldn't see her otherwise. She is often awake until about 9 at night but she is quite happy in her room.

bozza · 05/10/2007 13:55

Mine needs a lot of sleep and has to be up at 7 on days I work, hence the 7.30 but it is hard when beavers doesn't finish until 7.15.

NAB3 · 05/10/2007 13:56

Mine has just started going a little bit later at 7.10pm.

mellowma · 05/10/2007 13:57

Message withdrawn

bubblagirl · 05/10/2007 14:08

why dont you send her to bed at normal time give her some reading time or to play barbies and lights out at 8.30 then you still get your time and she isnt as bored just laying there

Celery · 05/10/2007 14:24

We do bath at 6ish, bed time at 7.00. The nearly 4 year old goes straight off, the nearly 7 year old reads or plays quietly in his room until 7.30 or 8.00pm at the very latest.

Before he could read properly, we'd set him up with some story CD's to listen to, or his leap-pad thingy.

I like an early night myself, as does DH - we usually go to bed ourselves at 9.00, so it's important to us the kids go to bed early too.

God, that sounds smug and judgemental - it's not, every family has it's own "style" don't they?

Hulababy · 05/10/2007 14:29

My 5yo (also Y1) goes to bed between 7:30 and 8pm on a school night. Always aim for 7:30pm but sometime send up a little bit late if DH home late, etc. She will then have a story (if later ist is VERY short) and will then read to herself with nightlight on until she falls asleep - normally quite soon TBH but sometimes can be longer.

We gave up on nightly baths and hair ages ago - she has a morning shower a couple of times a week, a night time bath once a week and rest of time its a wash at the sink in the morning. Saves us loads of time!

Weekends we are very relaxed about bedtimes and she goes to bed when it suits us - luckily she sleeps in if she goes to ed late

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