What time is an appropriate, reasonable, healthy bed time for a 13 month old?

Michelle - posted on 04/28/2009

Hi Sharon. I think your schedule is just fine. We put Tristan to bed at 8.30 every night. He sleeps through til 7.30 in the morning. And he also has a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. So i think ur doin great xx

Tasha - posted on 04/27/2009

Your child will let you know when they are ready for bed. I feel bad for mom and dads who have trouble getting their children to sleep as our first daughter has been pretty easy with everything. Get a routine for your child. Give yourself time to go through the routine so that they get used to it and know when everything is done its time to go to sleep. I usually start out by going for a walk after supper because the fresh air tired them out or playing vigorously for an hour or so, then we have a bath, a snack and a drink and I put her to bed between 830 and 9 everynight. I don't believe that's too late unless there are obvious signs that they are exhausted before that. As long as they are getting the hours the time shouldn't be a problem. Our daughter is a 9 to 9 girl so she's getting the 12 hours she needs. Just find your babies routine! Hope this helped.

Emily - posted on 04/16/2009

We put our daughter to bed at 8:30 also. My husband also can work until 6:00. I think it is a great bed time! It gives my husband and I more time together at night, and best of all she sleep until 8-8:30 instead of 5 to 6 in the morning! All and All though I think the best bed times are what works with your schedule!

Jane - posted on 04/15/2009

So long as it works for you, I'd say its fine! They're all different!

Jane - posted on 04/15/2009

So long as it works for you, I'd say its fine! They're all different!

Jane - posted on 04/15/2009

So long as it works for you, I'd say its fine! They're all different!

Laura - posted on 04/11/2009

I don't see where 8:30 is unreasonable. As long as your daughter is awake and not cranky. We put our daughter down around 8, but she too sleeps 12 hours through the night and naps about 3 hours a day. Very similar schedules and Harleigh is well rested and happy!

Jen - posted on 04/10/2009

My daughter gets to bed from 7:30-8 depending on when her daddy comes home from work, and she sleeps till 8:30 with about 2 hrs of napping. As long as your schedule works for your family, I think it is okay :)

Julie - posted on 04/10/2009

I'd say whatever works for your family is the best time! Sounds like she is getting plenty of sleep. My son goes to bed at 8pm and gets up around 6:15am.

Rachel - posted on 04/07/2009

I think it sounds like it suites your family perfectly.  bub's gets to see dad and she's sleeping 12hours overnight.  Wouldn't work for my little man as it doesn't matter what time he goes to bed he still wakes up like clock work at 6am!!

Katy - posted on 04/06/2009

The only reason to change your bed time schedule was if she had to get up earlier in the morning. SInce she can sleep til 8:30 what you are doing is perfectly fine!

Genna - posted on 03/29/2009

my 3 kids go to bed no later then 8pm, that gives me 2hrs with them when i finsh work. used to keep the older 2 up later but they were working themselves through the day whenever they had a late night. i think every child is different though. If ur daughter is happy through the day then there is no reason not to have her awake til 8:30.

Michelle - posted on 03/27/2009

My daughter has pretty the exact same schedule. I think that my times are fine and I have the same thing where Alexi can see her Dad after work before going to bed. I myself would prefer her going to bed at 8pm and up at 8am rather than 7pm and 7am! I don't know about the sleeping better if put down earlier... Alexi seems to sleep fine to me. I say let her see her Dad and if shes happy and healthy, then you be happy :o)

Carie-Louise - posted on 03/25/2009

Hi my son James-Taylor sleeps at 7pm every night and wakes up between 6 and 8am but even sometimes 10! he has one sleep a day, but today he didnt! we sometimes read a story or just have playtime before bed. He's been sleepin strait thru since he was 6 weeks old, but not that i get much sleep tho! but i think as long as ur lil'un is ok and happy, go along with ur mothers instinct - after all no one else knows ur baby like u do x

Rachel - posted on 03/24/2009

My son is 15 months old and I am a stay at home mom and his sleep schedule is similar. He actually falls asleep any where from 8:30 - 9:30 and sleeps until about 8:30 as well. I feel that if you think your child is getting the amount of rest he needs then why change anything. And spending time with daddy is important. Every baby is different remember that.

Shalona - posted on 03/24/2009

I put my 15 month down at 7 pm because I have to get up and get ready for work in the mornings. Sometimes I have to be at work @ 7:30, other days its 8:30, but he still goes to bed by 7 every night, weekends included. I dont think it matters what time she goes to bed at night, as long as she's on a schedule! If she's on a schedule that works for her and your family, and she's getting enough sleep, then continue the way that you have been!

Veronnica - posted on 03/23/2009

My children sleep heaps!! They get up at 7am - earliest - DD1 has a morning nap on weekends when home, she's almost 3yrs and always has an afternoon nap. DD2 naps twice every day without fail, sometimes 3 times, she's 15 months. They both go to bed no later than 7pm, it's usually 6pm...

Jennifer - posted on 03/10/2009

BTW my son is 14 months ....

Jennifer - posted on 03/10/2009

hi sharon- It sounds like that is perfect to me. :-) My son goes to bed at 7:30 and sleeps until 2:00 ish. He nurses and goes back to bed until 7:30/8:00. He then will take a nap 11-3. I think as long as a child is ona schdule of some sort than it doesnt matter if they go to bed an hour different than another child.

Carla - posted on 03/10/2009

i sharon, my little girl goes a bed at 6 not that i want her 2 go a bed at that time its the time she wants 2 go, she dont sleep that much during the day, she wakes at 7 then bk down at 12 then down 4 the night at 6 its good 4 me to so then i have my time which i so need as she is always on the go. hope this helps

Alicia - posted on 03/10/2009

if your babe is sleeping 12 hours ~ you're golden!

Tracy - posted on 03/07/2009

Sharon~ My boys are 15 months and they go to bed around 8-8:30ish everynight and get up at like 8-8:30 the next morning! Along with a 2 hour nap too! (except right now they are sick so its 2 naps that are close to 2 hours each!) I think you have a good routine, mostly cause its apparently working for you and your family! Thats what matters the most!  (i also like it cause its the same as mine ;) )

Claudia - posted on 03/06/2009

My daughter Isabel goes down for the night at about 8 after a bath and bedtime story.  She goes down pretty well with the routine.  She only takes 1 nap during the day though but it's long enough that I'm still pleased with the amount of sleep she's getting and she seems active and playful and not crabby.

Stephanie - posted on 03/04/2009

My son is almost 15 months old and he goes to bed between 8 and 830 and sleeps through the night and gets up between 730 and 8. He takes 2 naps during the day, the first one is usually 4.5 hours and the second one is 2-2.5 hours.

Rachel - posted on 02/19/2009

It has to work for you, babies don't follow one schedule.  My little ones wake on the dot of 6am wether I put them to bed at 6pm or 11pm!!  So I try to have him in bed by 7.30 so he gets a good sleep overnight.  it's important for your bub to have time with her daddy so it sounds like it's working perfectly for you!

Zoe - posted on 02/19/2009

Hi Sharon, as long as bubs is going to bed at a reasonable hour and gets 12 hours sleep then all is well. Your routine works well for your family so stick with it.

I think your bubs seeing her Daddy is so much more important than going to bed earlier...besides I was told by my sons Paed that they will only wake earlier if you put them down earlier.

We factor in a 7:00 bedtime but this is extremely flexable and hubby works shifts

Bronwyn - posted on 02/18/2009

Well, I guess my 14 month old is different from most of these mothers...He goes to bed at ten, sometimes 9:30. I think that it is nice, because then we aren't in a huge rush for dinner, bath, and play time. And everyone gets to sleep in. I'm a stay at home mom, so it makes a difference. I don't have to get off to work in the morning. So, I think whatever works for you is great! Don't listen to people that tell you negative things. :)

Natascha - posted on 02/18/2009

hello sharon , i think that if its working for you thats great. its great for dad to get some daddy time in . dont worry about what others say. my son is the same age he goes to bed between 7 and 8.

Darlene - posted on 02/18/2009

I asked my doctor the same thing because I don't get home until 7:00. My son is in bed by 8:00. He won't stay awake any longer. She said as long as he's getting 14-15 hours total, with naps included, he's good!

Lisa - posted on 02/18/2009

WOW! I wish my lil boy would go to bed that early or at least by 9. I do want us to have family time together after my husband gets home but sometimes I wish he'd go down around 9. He is hardly ever asleep b4 10 and most times later. :(  He sleeps 2-3 hrs in the afternoon and if he sleeps too late I struggle to get him to bed. I've had him asleep already by 9 but than he wakes up around 11 and I can hardly get him back to sleep. He just acts like he wants to go down and play. One thing nice is that I'm not a morning person so it's nice when he sleeps till 10 - 10:30. Whoever told you that you don't get your lil one in bed early enough would for sure tell me I get mine to bed too late. Maybe I should try harder to change his schedule. I know I'd be happy w/ your schedule!

Gina - posted on 02/18/2009

My daughter is pretty much on the same schedule as your Emmy.  She's usually in bed by 8 830  sometimes if she takes a late nap she'll go down at 9 but not normally.

Barbra - posted on 02/18/2009

Sharon - your schedule sounds wonderful and that's a great time for you and your family.

My son goes to bed early - some nights as early as 6:00 PM if he's had an active day. On the flip side, that means he's up at 6:00 AM in the morning. That works for me and my schedule, but what I wouldn't do for another hour of sleep some days.

I think as long as you follow the cues your daughter gives you on when she's ready for bed, and she's getting enough sleep - whatever bed time works best for your family, is the right bed time.

Amanda - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi Sharon!



I think it sounds like you are on a great schedule, and most importantly, it works for your daughter and your family which is what really matters most. There will always be those moms out there who think "one size fits all" for babies, so I wouldn't take her comment too personally. If it makes you feel any better, my son goes to bed much later, anytime between 9 and 10 pm. He wakes up every morning between 8 and 9am, takes a morning 2-hour nap and an evening 1-2 hour nap, and he has done so since 4 months old. Like yourself, my husband gets home late too, at 7pm, so those couple of hours before bedtime we think are crucial in bonding with his father. Hope that helps!

Rose - posted on 02/18/2009

Quoting Esther:

Your schedule sounds perfect to me. I would love it if I could do that but my son has to be up by about 6 AM every morning (for me to be able to get to work on time) so he really needs to be in bed by about 7:30 PM at the latest. My evenings are pretty stressful trying to spend some quality time with him and yet cooking dinner, giving him a bath etc. and still have him in bed by 7:30 PM. If I could have that extra hour, I would!

Ditto!  I have a similar schedule and I would do anything for that extra hour.  I even skipped making dinner a few nights a week because if I cook dinner I don't get any quality time in with my prince : (

Esther - posted on 02/18/2009

Your schedule sounds perfect to me. I would love it if I could do that but my son has to be up by about 6 AM every morning (for me to be able to get to work on time) so he really needs to be in bed by about 7:30 PM at the latest. My evenings are pretty stressful trying to spend some quality time with him and yet cooking dinner, giving him a bath etc. and still have him in bed by 7:30 PM. If I could have that extra hour, I would!

Krista - posted on 02/17/2009

My son usually is asleep by nine o'clock and wakes up between seven-thirty and eight-thirty. He takes two naps along with that and seems to be fine during the day. As long as she's getting enough sleep, then I think it's more important that she get to spend time with daddy than what time she's in bed. The early bedtimes are good once kids start school and are up at six in the morning. Hope that helps!

Emily - posted on 02/17/2009

Our boys are the same age and go to bed between 8:30 and 9...we try to be as close to 8:30 as possible. They take a morning and afternoon nap, usually about an hour each.

Hope this helps :)

Jen - posted on 02/17/2009

Our daughter goes down at 9pm. She has since she was about 7 months old. I know a lot of people put their toddlers down around 7, but we're hardly even eaten dinner by that time. I like the later bed time because we have time to spend with her before she has to go to bed and start the day over again. My daughter gets 12 hours of sleep at night and 2 naps, so we're not concerned. I think you're fine with keeping your daughter's bed time at 8:30.

Rose - posted on 02/17/2009

Personally I think that your schedule is great. I put my 14 month old to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 because my son has to be up at 7am because of my work schedule. I think that as long as the child gets their rest and is in bed by 9pm there shouldn't be a problem. Let her daddy enjoy her when he gets home from work : )