Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Flip

Original poster

Is 6/6.30pm too early for bed?

15 replies

nobodygirl2023 · 03/04/2023 18:20

I have a 12 week old who I'm beginning to try get into a more consistent routine. I've posted before about struggling to juggle this with my toddlers existing routine but think I've found a way that will work...

Last feed of day/night at 6pm - falling asleep by around 6:30pm, down to bed with a dream feed before I go to sleep around 10pm. Means I can still do toddlers bedtime at 7:30pm (all going to plan).

My question is...is 6pm too early for bedtime? My toddler was always somewhere between 7-8pm so 6 seems very early.

What time do your babies (under 1s) go to bed & how does it work for you?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PandaOrLion · 03/04/2023 18:23

DS is 16weeks. We folllw his lead, which is easier when you don’t have another. He falls asleep around 630 then we wake him at 730 for bath, feed etc. He goes to bed properly at about 8:30 and sleeps through till 730am.

VivaVivaa · 03/04/2023 18:24

At 12 weeks old, if I had put DS down at 6 he would have viewed it as a nap and been awake again after 30-120 minutes, needing another hour or two if awake time and a feed. But if it works for you then crack on. Much beyond 6 ish months (whenever you get into a nap routine) it might give you an early morning wake, but worth trying.

Original poster

nobodygirl2023 · 03/04/2023 18:27

PandaOrLion · 03/04/2023 18:23

Yeah this would probably be ideal if it wasn't for the toddler. The logistics of handling both their bedtimes make my brain melt.

OP posts:

Random102 · 03/04/2023 18:29

You will just have to try it and see if it works. At 12 weeks babies have their own agendas!

rosegoldivy · 03/04/2023 18:33

I have a 3 year old and a set of twins who are almost 2.
They fell into their own routine and for the last year all 3 are down between 6pm - 6.30pm latest and up about 6am.
I love it.
Means get the night to myself.
Don't grudge the early mornings as I've had a few hours downtime every night

Original poster

nobodygirl2023 · 03/04/2023 20:06

rosegoldivy · 03/04/2023 18:33

This is exactly what I want to hear 🤣

OP posts:

GinnyBee · 03/04/2023 21:00

At 12 weeks I’m sure mine had his bedtime around midnight! 10pm earliest. I hated it, I like an early bed and for ages he was going to bed much later than I wanted to go to bed! Although hex was also then sleeping until 7am and looking back in should never have complained! It did gradually shift earlier after 3 months.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 03/04/2023 21:05

I've raised 3 kids, all had 6pm bedtimes at that age and slept till 6am-7am ish (with the occasional ungodly early start).

I think it depends on the child though. We were heavily routine oriented with our kids and started full bedtime routines from 10 weeks old. I know others who don't do do routines and just took baby upstairs to bed when they did.

I don't think there is any wrong answer. Try it, and if it doesn't work for you then try something else.

AndTheListGoesOn · 03/04/2023 21:27

I have an almost 3 year old and a just turned 1 year old. My youngest has been going to bed between 6.30 - 7 (sleeping for 7 - 7.30). Eldest goes to bed at 7.30 and falls asleep between 8 - 8.30.

They share a room and this works for us. Both get up between 6 - 6.45.

Original poster

nobodygirl2023 · 03/04/2023 21:34

Well I gave it a go tonight and she was awake again by 7. Just had to take her with me to toddlers room and hope for best. Thankfully she stayed quiet enough for me to get her older sister down to sleep but was a happy accident. I love routine & tearing my hair out on how to manage this...

I guess I just need to be more flexible than I'm comfortable with 😭

OP posts:

3littlebeans · 03/04/2023 21:37

Mine went to bed with me (around 9) at that age!

I dont think my kids have ever had a bedtime before 7. (And it was 7 for a very long time!)

Original poster

nobodygirl2023 · 03/04/2023 21:47

3littlebeans · 03/04/2023 21:37

Mine went to bed with me (around 9) at that age!

I dont think my kids have ever had a bedtime before 7. (And it was 7 for a very long time!)

Yeah 7 does feel more reasonable but been racking my brain for weeks & just can't seem to come up with a way that works to settle them both down for the night when I'm on my own with them. Honestly don't know how everyone does it 😫

OP posts:

3littlebeans · 03/04/2023 21:54

I was on my own with mine a lot as my husband worked away which was why we did it this way. But that was because I needed to prioritise my sleep and if they came with me to bed/had a big feed at 9 I had more chance of a chunk of sleep. I know others are luckier at getting longer at an earlier age than we were.

I often would feed baby to keep them quiet while I read to my toddler or we all snuggled up for toddler stories at night time.

It wasnt an easy few years though.

Bumble84 · 03/04/2023 22:06

it sounds like your doing bedtime for both alone?

At 12 weeks if I was doing bedtime alone for baby and toddler I tended to put baby in the sling and put toddler to bed 7/7.30pm. The baby would sleep and toddler didn’t really pay attention to her in the sling. Then I’d put the baby to bed around 8.30/9pm. I didn’t start putting them both to bed at the same time until around 4-5 months. I’d give them a bath together. Put baby down first then toddler. Although I must say so far I have been extremely lucky that baby (6m) settles quite well at night. May be a different story in a couple of months when separation anxiety kicks in but it’s working for just now.

HippeePrincess · 22/07/2023 20:43

I single parented a preschooler and a baby, initially I did the sling while I did 3yo bedtime (in bed for 7) then did the 6/6.30 bedtime for baby, bath both together, fed baby in my bed while reading to toddler, baby to bed, milk teeth and one last story for toddler, lights out for 7. Worked for a few years when they were younger they thrived on early bedtime. They never woke more/earlier as a result.
current baby is coming up for 6 months, others are more independent now and have later bedtimes, new baby goes to sleep whenever he’s tired between 6 & 8.30 as he often ends up danger napping on the way too or from extra curriculars for the older ones.

Flip