Let’s talk about bedtime routines with Sky Broadband

[EllieMumsnet]

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The bedtime routine is one that we are constantly trying to perfect, whether it’s our own, our baby's, our partner’s or our teenagers’, it can feel like a bit of a battle of trying to wind down, relax and drift off into a deep sleep for the full 8 hours that’s recommended to us. Which is why Sky Broadband would like to know all about your family’s bedtime routine and how you all try to wind down.

Here’s what Sky Broadband have to say: “As part of our new Sky Broadband Boost pack, we have launched a brand new app called Sky Broadband Buddy, which gives parents the ultimate level of control over their family’s internet usage. Buddy takes parental controls to the next level with its market leading features such as being able to pause your internet and filter sites on devices on WiFi and mobile data You can even keep tabs on screen time by setting regular time limits and bedtimes.”

Do you have a family rule of no screen time an hour or so before bed? What are your teenager’s sleep routines? How do you battle with the late nights and early school mornings? How about yourself? What helps you get to sleep and what time do you go to sleep? Is it story time before bed that really help your children wind down? Or what about your partner, do you try to sync into each other's sleep routines?

Whatever your tips, tricks and experiences are of your family’s sleep routines, share them on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Bath, brush teeth,book and bed

Now they're older, we take a more relaxed approach. but still need to ensure they get enough sleep.
As a whole family we're trying the no screen time for an hour before bed, but struggling with no TV as it's been part of the grown up's routine for ever - News at Ten, then bed!

Now my daughter is older our bedroom routine has changed slightly. It's now cuddle and tuck into bed with her book. She has a sunset light that slowly gets darker over 30 mins. She reads until it's to dark to read then goes to sleep herself. I check to make sure she hasn't reset it but she's generally good.

My children have a bath, PJs, a snack with milk, winding down time to read a book and then bed. That is the plan, but often my 5 year old gets so exhausted by school that she falls asleep round 4pm and then there is no waking her. She sleeps for 2-3 hours and won't wake up so this often ruins the bed time plans as she doesn't feel sleepy and keeps coming back downstairs! I'm sure she will grow out of it when she is older and can cope with the school day a bit more!

My little one is 9 months old and we already have quite a strong implemented bedtime routine, that consists of shutting all curtains to darken the house (essential at this time of the year!) we have a bath, then jammies & a bottle of milk &watch bedtime stories on sky then have a bedtime story ourselves and then its bedtime. Little one has taken to it quite well thankfully!

My son is a bit older now so I am relaxed about his sleeping arrangements but when he was a toddler it would be a strict, bath, book and bed set up ... most of the time he went to sleep no problems, but there were occasions where he needed to be put back in bed after coming downstairs!

no screens upstairs. firm bed times, a set of tasks to get through before r&r time in the evening

We do bath at around 6.30, three stories and them bed by as close to 7 as I can manage! Same routine for the 5 year old and the 1 year old.

My kids pretty much read until they fall asleep, they wake up about 9-ish (10am if we have been out the nght before!) I home ed my four, and we really don't stick to the 'rules' at all. Sometimes they will be asleep by 8, sometimes 9 or 10pm, but then they have no reason to get up early unless we're doing something for the day that requires an early start. But because I don't have to enforce bed, they will sometimes disappear at 6pm and I will find them snuggled up reading a Point Horror book under the covers! lol

At the weekend they will watch a Disney film or something similiar in bed, I have no probelm with them having some screen time at bed time, theres a lot worse they could be doing, and the majority of our day we spend outside so, I have no problems with it.

Because of no early starts, we have no grumpiness in the mornings as they get up they want to, which, while obviously this can't work for all, its so nice seeing the kids enjoy lovely lie-in's while they are young enough to appreciate them before work starts! Their brothers both started working at 15 so they are enjoying their routines while they can lol. x

I go to sleep far too late. I think reading before bed helps people of all ages.

There's no tv for a good half hour before bed, I like her to have some quiet time to wind down, then after teeth etc she had a story read to her and then it's time to go to sleep. I've keep the routine consistent for a good while which had really helped.

no electronics upstairs and calm down family time for 30 minutes. The kids are older now so can read in bed until they are sleepy.

Definitely no screen time at least an hour before bed and a wind down period.

My two boys are close in age (just 11 months difference) but DS8 seems to have grown to need much less sleep than DS7, who gets a bit grumpy and emotional if he doesn't get enough sleep.

I still put them to bed at the same time, after their usual sporting activities and bath / shower, which is usually between 7.30 - 8pm. Usually DS8 chooses to read for a while, while DS7 normally goes straight to sleep.

Teen/tween here so not as strict a routine, but still a structure.
Phones off, showers, pjs, lay clothes out, pack bags/get organised for school, we’ll sometimes watch a bit of telly together as a family before they go to bed e.g the bake off.

My two older dc don't have a routine as they are 12 and 16. I'm often asleep before the 16yr old!

Youngest is 7 and I try and say no screens an hour before bed during the week. Sometimes he has a shower sometimes not but he always brushes teeth, has a chapter or two of whatever book is on the go, something small for supper and a drink of milk. Lights out by 8.30 during the week.

At the weekend I don't really do 'bedtime', we watch films until late or go out for dinner so it's often 10ish before he goes to bed.

My DS is now 13 and I think an evening routine is still important, teaching them good habits now will help them make better choices later.
Our house rule is no screen time 30 mins before bedtime, he is allowed to read, or do anything else, usually finding snacks!
I think going to bed with happy thoughts about the day and tomorrow is really important, so I still pop in just after he has gone to bed and ask him what the best bit of the day was/what made him smile or how was he kind, I also ask him what he is looking forward to the next day most.
He goes to bed smiling then and thinking about positive thoughts with me telling him how proud of him I am.

for us bath, brush teeth, a good story to read, then bed.

My DS is 9 and DD is 7,
They go to bed about 8pm with no screens an hour before, this is since my DS had sleep issues so we have bath, cuddles in the wind down before bed and no screens in bedroom. We have calming music to go to sleep to and sometimes use aromatherapy too.
At weekends/ holidays bedtime is nearer 9pm and at the moment we are trialling with my DS as he's is getting older 30-45mins reading time after he goes to bed so he can continue to unwind, so we'll see how that goes.
Bed time is easier and calmer with a routine and they sleep much better since screen time restrictions on maximum use and on turning them off an hour before bed

We have a rule of no devices or tv in the hour before bedtime and then its pyjamas, bedtime drink of milk and a biscuit before teeth cleaning, bedtime story and a cuddle and kiss as they get tucked in.

Everyone has different routines but our when it’s lively weather is a run around the park after school for a good hour or so, then we go home for dinner and homework. After dinner with have a nice bath with bedtime bubble bath in and get creamed and fresh pjs on. About 7 o’clock is nice hot chocolate with squirts my cream and sprinkles whilst we have a story. I buy something from Avon called pillow mist it’s lavender and camomile u spray the pillows with it and helps drift off I swear by it so use everyday without fail. Then when they asleep it’s mum time 😊 a nice bath to myself and get ready for another day but I wouldn’t have it any other way x

For the children, no personal screens in the evening, for me no bright screens after 10 pm. Everyone comes together for a chat and a cuddle just before bed time, including getting things ready for tomorrow so that there are no late night worries.

Thanks for all your comments and congratulations to @cipear19 for winning the voucher!