What time does your toddler go to bed????

Pam - posted on 01/04/2010

Does she still have an afternoon sleep? That is what determines when Beverley goes to bed when Beverley has an afternoon sleep she goes to bed at half 8 but when she doesnt have an afternoon sleep it is half 7, this seems to work, we get up around 7 in the morning

Stephanie - posted on 12/30/2009

Wow... I feel really bad. I really wont be any help at all... I also work evening shift at my job, so by the time I pick her up from my moms and get home it is midnight, and she stays up with me until about 2-3am ... but I dont mind because then we get to sleep in until noon or later. Its going to be hard to get her on a normal schedule when I put her in pre-k, but at this time, its what works best for me and I get to spend actual time with her while Im awake, and not just waking up and cranky. :)

Rebecca - posted on 12/21/2009

My one year old is put in her cot at 8pm every night and usually goes straight to sleep, or if she cries it is no longer than 5 minutes.

My 2 and a half year old is another story, he is in a bed and would keep coming out of his room - his bedtime is a little erratic but is always around 8.30 - 9pm.

I start warning him about half an hour before bedtime and then every 5-10 minutes I mention it, and I turn down the tv and turn off most the lights so it gradually gets quieter and calmer. When the time comes we go in his room and close the door, read a story and then lie down.

I didn't find leaving him to cry it out worked for him at all, it just made him extremely distressed, to the point he was sick. After that I decided that I would stay with him. He still cries and argues sometimes when I turn off the light and says he is not tired etc but he is usually asleep within 15 minutes and then I leave the room.

I don't feel I am 'giving in' to him because there is still a bedtime, and it is becoming less of a fight as we go along, now he reads his story and tells me it's bedtime and turns off the light but he still likes me there with him at the moment.

Even at this bedtime both of them are usually awake before 6am!

Nicole - posted on 08/23/2009

lol i might not help much cause my son goes to sleep at 9 but he also still takes a two hour nap from 2-4. does your daughter take naps? if so maybe if you stop her naps going to sleep at 8 wont be a problem.... if 8-8:30 is the best bedtime for her, than i would just let her cry herself to sleep. even though my son does cry still when i put him to bed and he is two and a half.... i cant help but go in there and comfort him... that is my downfall! goodluck!

Amanda - posted on 08/22/2009

It is always best to keep a consistent bed time. I take my daughter to bed at 8 pm and i start warning her about 20 minutes before that its almost bed time and i give her reminders at 10 minutes before and then 5 minutes. she cries even still but she has gotten used to the 8 pm time. Consistency is the best thing for kids this age. when they get older they will know that you mean business when you say its bed time.

Margaret - posted on 08/17/2009

My son goes to bed at 8 p.m. every night and is up by 7 or 7:30. Yes he does fight me most of the time but a routine has to be set by the PARENT, not the child. When he fights me, I tell him it is bedtime and then i leave his room. I let him cry it out. It's part of the two year old nature to test boundaries and see if they can get you to let them do something. If you give in, she will see she can control you and will not recognize boundaries which will make problems later. Sleep is important for the growth and development of a child. If she is waking up cranky, it's probably because she didn't get enough sleep. She won't remember that by nightfall and may fight you again. I would continue to put her to bed at eight. Maybe start a routine where you brush teeth, read a story, say a prayer, and give hugs and kisses goodnight. If she fights, place her back in bed and tell her it's time to sleep. If she cries in her room, let her. She'll eventually learn that YOU know what's best for her. If she comes out of her room, place her back into her bed without saying anything and keep doing it till she goes to sleep. She'll eventually learn that you are her mommy and that you love her enough to do what's best with her. If you want to give her choices, let her choose things like the clothes she wears, what book to read, her shoes, but not her bedtime. She needs her sleep.

Amanda - posted on 08/15/2009

My son used to go to bed at 8, but when daylight savings hit we had to move it to 8:30-8:45. We get up at 7:15 every morning and he is ok! But he is taking 2 1/2 hour naps during the day! I don't know if it helps, but I hope it does something for you!

Kasia - posted on 08/11/2009

My daughter who is 2 and 5 months now goes to sleep around 9 PM now. The only way I can get everything done in time and get her to bed is around 9 PM. She has a tendency to prolong her bath time:). However, I go to work at 9 AM or later so she sleeps until she gets up which is usually until 7:15 or so and can be as late as 8 AM. She also has an average of 2 1/2 hours nap at daycare. Your child should get a total of at least 12 hours, preferrabley 13 hours of sleep per day so as long as they are getting that at night plus nap you should be good, otherwise you may have to move her bedtime to an earlier time.

Melissa - posted on 08/05/2009

Yes put her in the room and let her cry! The first couple nights might be really difficult but if u stay consistent it will pay off.... my son goes to bed at 7-730 and we get up at 6... with an hour to hour and a half sometimes longer nap in the day :)

Shirley - posted on 08/03/2009

K goes to bet between 7 and 7:30, earlier if she hasn't had any nap, she stays up later on days where she has had a long afternoon nap.

Tineke - posted on 08/02/2009

I put both my kids to bed at 8:30 and they normally wake up at around 7. My 2 year old still has a daytime nap for 1-3 hours depending how loud his older brother is being.
When I put my 2 year old to bed I often hear him in there talking to himself sometimes for an hour or more, but he does eventually go to sleep. I think it's important to stick to a routine so they get use to going to bed at the same time every night. Sometimes is it hard. My 2 year old did cr and winge a lot when I first took his bottle off him when itt was time to go to bed, but he has gotten use to it now and we only have the occasional play up now.

Randa - posted on 08/02/2009

My two year old does not like to go to bed before his older brother (4 yrs.) so I take them both up to bed around 8:30 and we read books for about a half hour. Then he lays down to sleep. Even going to bed by 9, he still gets up around 6 am.

Lauren - posted on 07/30/2009

my son was always on a set schedule..until he started to climb out of his crib, go to his door and come downstairs crying!! he sleeps in a toddler bed now and does really well with it. sometimes he'll be asleep at 630!! other nights, and rarely, he will stay up until 10:00!! he does not nap during the day anymore either. he is always very happy though. if i try to put him to bed when he is not ready he will cry, and cry. but usually i put on one of his favorite songs or some nights he'll watch bob the builder or thomas until he falls asleep and then its usally around 8.

Tori - posted on 07/30/2009

well i put her to bed eveynight at 8pm it has worked really good but the past 2 weeks or so have been so much trouble. she cry's and fights with and wont stay in her bed. but i just keep putting her in her bed. it usually takes 30 mins to an hour for her to finally fall asleep. by the way she is 2 years and almost 5 months.

Alison - posted on 07/28/2009

Hi my daughther is 2 yrs 4 months and goes to bed at 7.30. I have stopped her having a sleep during the day. She now will nap if in the car and only for 30 mins and then i wake her up. She sleeps through the night and wakes around 7 in the morning. What about a good run in the garden before bed.

Michelle - posted on 07/25/2009

Hi my daughter goes to bed at 7.30 but had been going to sleep later as it is light even though she is in bed later she still wakes me up at 6.30 and she only has a 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon as if she has anymore than that she won't sleep.

Melanie - posted on 07/17/2009

My son usually goes to bed at 8 as well but the past week we've been letting him stay up until around 9. He goes through these phases that know matter what he's staying up, we usually humor him for a week or two and then put him back om his normal schedule. The only difference that we found with him by letting him stay up later is that he'll sleep an extra 20-30 min. in the afternoon for his nap, so we just put him down earlier for a nap.

Andrea - posted on 07/16/2009

Thanks for all the comments. She is a good girl and I am just going to take the cues from her. She will let me know when she is tired. I have been letting her stay up until about 8:30 the last few nights. She then goes right to bed- it also is a little darker by then.

Angela - posted on 07/16/2009

My son is 2 years/3 months and he goes to bed around 8-8:30 during the week. He may stay up a little longer on the weekends. He also naps for 2-3 hours during the day after lunch. He knows that it is time to go to bed and even turns off his tv, light off and gets in bed. he's been on a schedule since he's slept in his crib. 30 minutes at night can be a big defference to them.

Angel - posted on 07/15/2009

Hi there,

I am no expertise but my 2 year old has been going to bed about 30 min later as well but it is really cause now it is so light out at 8pm. I mean it is still broad day light out and i think that she just can't sleep like that. She would rather be up playing so i let her go about half hour later to 45 minutes. By then it is darker and she is fine to put to bed.



If she is grumpy about waking up in the morning i am not sure about suggestions on that other than maybe trying to find a fun way to get her in a good mood in the morning when you do wake her up. Maybe hop in bed with her and spend an extra 10-15 min with her looking at a book or something. That could always put her in a good mood if she is in to books yet.

Like i said these are really just ideas. Good Luck.

Destiny - posted on 07/15/2009

My son goes to bed at 8pm, some night he doesnt need to go to bed at that time but at the end of the day Im ready for my time, I put both my children the sleep at that time my 6month old goes to sleep and if Parker my 2yr old doesnt go to bed he is still in his room, He doesnt wake up till 7-8 am but if he were waking up at 6 am yes I would make sure he went to bed at 8pm. Especially if he wasnt having a nap

Valerie - posted on 07/15/2009

Guess I won't be much help...other than to ask if she has opportunity to take longer/additional nap during the day...if so, I would let her stay up. I work evenings as home-health nurse and get home at different times each night. My daughter tries to wait up for me most nights and sometimes doesn't get to bed to almost midnight, but then she has the chance to sleep in as late as needed the next day...sometimes until 11! But my problem is trying to get a better cycle other than staying up late/sleeping in late....but it's so hard...I love seeing her at the end of the day and rocking her to sleep.