What is a good bedtime?

Muriel - posted on 10/13/2011

The best time is when they are tired and ready...not over tired. Enjoy them, soon enough they are busy with other people, schedules and priorities. Read just one more story every time you get a chance.

Jennifer - posted on 10/12/2011

it seems alright my daughter goes to bed from 8-830 some days lagter but she has her nap sometimes

Belinda - posted on 10/11/2011

My 2yr old son goes to bed at 8pm everynight and gets up at 7am every morning. Then at 11am he takes his hour nap. I like having a routine for my son it makes it a lot easier on me. I wolud think if i didnt have a regular routine for him he would be so cranky.

Kari - posted on 10/11/2011

I say its just routine. I try to have my daughter in the bed by 8:30 but it doesnt always happen that wayday it could be 9 or 10 before she goes to sleep. I try to keep her on her routine as much as possible but I dont go crazy and panic if she isnt in bed by 8:30.

Janine - posted on 10/10/2011

Personally I would be completely drained if my children stayed up that long... arrgh!! Seriously though.. Children are supposed to get around 12hours of sleep a night (the young ones) as long as your child is getting this then there really isnt a problem. However, he will be starting school and this is where you are going to need a earlier routine. I suggest starting is now. 7-8pm is generally a decent time. My children go to bed then, my oldest children go around 8.30pm on a school night. Keep in mind they also wake up at around 6-6.30am in the morning. When your child starts school, he is going to have to be up by 7am to get a good breakfast and off to school, he will then need a good sleep for his mind to be active the next day. If you too wake late in the day, then you might want to start this routine with him so you can both get used to the next 12years of schooling rituals together lol! As long as he is happy and healthy and you dont have a problem with it, then there isnt a problem. However I do implore you to make some changes especially when he is verging on the education side of things... Unfortunately, routine is important here. Hope is helps x

Claudia - posted on 10/10/2011

If you are ok with thi routine, I do not see a problem just check this site

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/s...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sleep and Toddlers (1-3 years)

Toddlers need about 12-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. When they reach about 18 months of age their naptimes will decrease to once a day lasting about one to three hours. Naps should not occur too close to bedtime as they may delay sleep at night.



Many toddlers experience sleep problems including resisting going to bed and nighttime awakenings. Nighttime fears and nightmares are also common.



Many factors can lead to sleep problems. Toddlers' drive for independence and an increase in their motor, cognitive and social abilities can interfere with sleep. In addition, their ability to get out of bed, separation anxiety, the need for autonomy and the development of the child's imagination can lead to sleep problems. Daytime sleepiness and behavior problems may signal poor sleep or a sleep problem.



Sleep Tips For Toddlers:

•Maintain a daily sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine.

•Make the bedroom environment the same every night and throughout the night.

•Set limits that are consistent, communicated and enforced. Encourage use of a security object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.



Sleep and Preschoolers (3-5 years)



Preschoolers typically sleep 11-13 hours each night and most do not nap after five years of age. As with toddlers, difficulty falling asleep and waking up during the night are common. With further development of imagination, preschoolers commonly experience nighttime fears and nightmares. In addition, sleepwalking and sleep terrors peak during preschool years.



Sleep Tips for Preschoolers

•Maintain a regular and consistent sleep schedule.

•Have a relaxing bedtime routine that ends in the room where the child sleeps.

•Child should sleep in the same sleeping environment every night, in a room that is cool, quiet and dark – and without a TV.

Aneta - posted on 10/08/2011

My daughter goes to bed between 9p.m and 10p.m the latest, and wakes around 8a.m.
The last couple of weeks though I`m not if it`s having to do with switching froma crib to a big girl bed had an effect but she been testing her bed time and getting out of her room several times which some nights it`s 12a.m and she`s still up.....any helpful ideas or suggestions on what we should do ......please help.

Ania - posted on 10/08/2011

It probably depends on a person. If it works for your son you should leave it that way. Books say though that babies get better type of sleep when they go early. I don't remember what that is exactly. I would do some research Healthy sleep habits happy child book has a good research on it.

Brandy - posted on 10/06/2011

My 2 and 4 year old both go to bed between 10 and 11pm. They usually wake up between 10 and 11am. This schedule works for me and my husband but outside family members seem concerned. But they don't deal with the kids on a daily basis either. I feel what works for our family is our business and if that means a LATE bedtime then so be it.

Dawn - posted on 10/06/2011

I would give anything to get my 2 yr old to go to bed before friggin midnight!! Especially when I have to get up at 6 to get myself ready for work and get the 5 mo old ready to go to daycare, mean while he thinks he needs to sleep because he went to bed so late. He starts showing all the signs that he's tired around 8 or 9 but throws a fit if you try to put him to bed. So he goes until he drops!! Literally he will go until he falls asleep on the living room floor.

Laura - posted on 12/28/2010

I try to put my son down at 8 every night, but lately he has not been going to sleep. I would prefer to have him down by 7, but that doesn't work well during the school year due to schedules. He is awake before 7am.

Melanie - posted on 12/27/2010

It's really nice to read so many posts saying that it's not the bedtime that's important but the amount of hours they sleep. I live in Italy where the afternoon finishes at 7pm and no children go to bed at that time. The normal time for babies and children is 9pm. My two go to be at 8 - 8.30 as I am English and appreciate the "me" time (which Italian mums don't feel the need for, their children are everything) and also because they have to be up for day care in the mornings (sometimes they are out of the house at 7.30 am but usually not till 9 so I can let them sleep till 8.30 am if they really need it.) But when I go to England everyone is so shocked to see these small children still running around at 8.30 - 9pm (during holidays) and I constantly have to justify that they sleep later in the mornings (till about 8 ish) whereas all my English friends moan when their kids wake them up at 6am. As a rule my 21 month old needs about 12 -13 hrs in 24 (she naps at lunchtime) and my 4 year old 11 hours ( so from 8.30 till 7.30 is perfect).

Alicia - posted on 12/23/2010

My daughter is 21 mths and she goes to bed at 9pm and wakes around 8am. I also like the me time to get on the computer or watch a show child free. But when her brother comes over he is also 21 mths he wakes her up around 7am and then she is extra cranky because he dosent nap but for like an hr and she naps for about 3 hrs do to her only sleeping for about 11 hrs at night. I dread the nights her brother is here he is on a different schedule because he goes to daycare on tuesdays and thursdays and go to a babysitter the other days his mom has to be at work at 9am so he is up at 7am everyday

Cheryl - posted on 12/22/2010

My daughter is 21 months and she goes to bed at 8:30-9pm and is awake by 8am every morning :) It works pretty well for both of us :) I dont think it matters what time your child goes to bed as long as they are getting the correct amount of sleep and their sleep schedule works well with your life style and schedule, then everything is fine. :)

Meghan - posted on 12/21/2010

I'd say, if it works for you, and the kid is healthy, then who cares! right?!? Don't second guess yourself. If the schedule works, then its fine :)

Rachel - posted on 12/21/2010

My son goes to bed any where between 6:45 and 7:45 unless we are out then he may go a little later and sometimes he goes to bed about 6:30. But he sleeps until 6 or 7 in the morning. I have him on this routine and it gives me a little time to get stuff done, which is not much because I am in bed by about 9. No matter if I put him to bed at 7 or 10 he will be up early in the morning.

Leeann - posted on 12/21/2010

well my daughter doesnt really have a bed time? i mean most of the time she goes to bed at 10 or before 10 and will wake up at 8. She takes a nap around noon and sometimes at 5 or 530. I dont how good of a routine that is but it works for me

Meghan - posted on 12/21/2010

I would think it would matter, as long as he is getting the right amount of sleep. Like others have said, my son goes to be around 8pm, so that I have some me time in the evenings. Also, if you aren't working, then there is no reason he needs to be awake early. I know some moms who have to be up and out of the house by 7am, so their kids go to bed at like 5 or 6pm so they will be up early. It's all what works for you, in my opinion.

Kelly - posted on 12/20/2010

My 21 month old son goes to be at 6:30 and gets up around 8-9. He is also napping during the day. He likes his sleep so i dont mind giving him as much as he needs. I personally like to have time with my husband in the evening and be free to do cooking...etc... If they are getting the required sleep then it shouldn't matter what time they go down. :)

Ashleigh - posted on 12/20/2010

Actually that is my routine right there. My husband doesn't have to be at work till 11:30 am so we don't go to bed till 1 am. And since we get up at 10 for him to go to work anyway it works out rather well for us. We get alone time in the evening and she gets up when we do so he gets to see her before he goes to work. If you place your kid's sleep schedule around yours then whatever schedule he has is fine.

Stephanie - posted on 12/20/2010

My son goes to bed at 8 every night and he wake's up anywhere from 6 - 8. But i have to lay him down early so i can get to work and get him to daycare. But it's whatever the parent wants. If your happy with his sleeping schedule then don't worry about and keep doing what your doing!

Laura - posted on 12/19/2010

Katelyn goes to bed at around 6:30 which gives me some down time in the evening to unwind and relax. She wakes up any time from 5-7 am. I'd rather have some free time in the evening to spend with her dad, eat some dinner or watch a move than in the morning but that's just me. I also figure if she is used to an early bedtime now when she's only 21 months, it will be less of a battle when she gets older.

Marcia - posted on 12/18/2010

I must say, my 20 month old son goes to bed at 9.30-10pm and this suits us and our lifestyle very well. We prefer to sleep in and if he were to go to bed any earlier we would never be able to do this. If it works for your lifestyle then that is what matters. Fitting them into YOUR schedule, and not the other way around. Of course, when they get older and need to get up early for school, this may need to change!

Jill - posted on 12/18/2010

My daughter goes to bed around 8 every evening and gets up every morning at 715 and goes to school. She get a 2 hour nap between 1130 and 130 everyday during the week.

Jackie - posted on 12/18/2010

My son is 21 months old, he also goes to bed at 9.30/10pm & gets up at 9.30/10am it suits us well, cos my partner gets up for work at 6am & i get up at 6.30am so that gives me plenty of time to shower, clean up & get my sons stuff ready for when he gets up

Amy - posted on 12/18/2010

My son is 22months, he goes to bed at 7pm and wakes anytime from 8am onwards.... he also has afternoon naps of 2-4hrs depending...Hes always been a fab sleeper since 4wks old hes slep through.

CRYSTAL - posted on 12/18/2010

My son goes to bed around 7:30-8:00 and wakes up around 6:40 am he takes a 2-3 nap during the day.

Charlene - posted on 12/18/2010

Yeah ,i know i was thinking about hows he gunna be whn its pre-school time , he alwayz wakes up at 9:30-10 am on the dot , i like it becuz i am a SAHM n like sleeping in . Maybe when hes 2.5 i'll try changing his sleeping time. when is a good time to start pre-school?

Leanne - posted on 12/17/2010

I must be lucky to have a daughter who is in bed nightly at 8pm and wakes up at 9-930am! She has 1x 60-90 min nap during the day. Each child is different in their sleep requirements....personally I appreciate having a nice portion of the evening to myself with my husband.

Meagan - posted on 12/17/2010

My little one goes to sleep between 6:30 and 7:30. My pediatrician recommends about 14 hrs of sleep in a 24 hr period. I make the choice to put my son to bed so we can have our evenings.... of course now that we have a newborn, our evenings are still pretty full :)

Claudia - posted on 12/17/2010

My kids used to have the same sleep hours. I don't see any wrong with it, as long as your child sleeps enough.
The only but was when the oldest started pre-school, we had to make some changes. It took us about 2-3 weeks to get them to sleep before 9pm, and still now after 3 months most of the mornings I have to wake them up, which I hate.

Renae - posted on 12/17/2010

At this age, no it doesn't really matter. However, you may find that as he gets to around 3 he will start to wake up at 6 or 7am and then it will matter because he will not be getting enough sleep. Most 1.5 year olds go to bed at 7pm and get up at 6am. If I were you I would try to move his bedtime earlier as he will need to be going to bed earlier in years to come and it will more difficult to adjust when he is older. The best way to adjust a bedtime without interferring with sleep is to move the bedtime forward by 10 minutes every 4 days.

Anna - posted on 12/15/2010

Our kids have the same schedule! I am a SAHM, and I home school, and I have always had a hard time getting out of bed before 9 myself, so this works great for me. My twins, now 10, got out of bed so early, no matter what I did, and I was so grumpy in the morning! Now they are old enough to let Mommy and the baby sleep in, they just turn on the TV quietly.

Tammy - posted on 12/15/2010

I am a stay at home mom and I have a 5 yr old and a 20 month old, both go to bed at 8:00 and they get up between 6 and 7. You didn't say how old your son is but my two have had this bed time very early on like as soon as I could introduce a sleep schedule. I did this for two reasons. 1) I need some "quiet time" and this is when I can get it. 2) I would eventually have to get them on this schedule when they get older and go to school, so why not do it early so that it is "normal" to them and not a big change at school age. Now during the summer I do let them stay up later after time change because it gets dark later, but most of the time they are both out by 8:30 due to exhaustion. :o) My son has always slept good and will still take naps (3 hrs if I let him!) My daughter on the other hand is horrible at naps! I'm lucky to get her to take an hour nap and then it's only every other day that this will happen! Nap times really do depend on the child. My two are proof of that for sure! I have to go get my son out of bed because he will lay there and play, while my daughter is greeting me in my room between 5:30 and 6:00 most mornings! LOL I would say that you set times that are best for you and your family. Just remember that if your son starts acting out and looks like he's tired then you may need to adjust his sleep schedule. A kids behavior can tell you a whole lot, if you are paying attention.

Pamela - posted on 12/14/2010

my 21 month old daughter goes to bed between 6-7. And she sleeps through till 6-7 in the morning. No matter what time i put her to bed she is always up between 6-7. Which is what i need as i have an elder daughter who goes to school. My daughter sometimes has a nap during the day but sometimes she does not. I have to have routine for both my girls as we have school and other things so it is much easier

Catharine - posted on 12/11/2010

It probably doesn't matter that he goes to bed late since he gets 12 hours of sleep at night. A lot of my friends who stay home have their kids on a later bedtime schedule because they like having the mornings to themselves, or just like getting started a little later in the mornings themselves. My son is 21 months and gets about 12 hours of sleep at night too, but goes to bed about 7:30. This works for us ebcause we like to have a few hours without kids before we go to bed and because we all need to be out the door by about 8:00.

As far his naps and total sleep goes--that really depends on his age. But, if your son is happy and not obviously tired by throwing lots of tantrums, etc., then he's probably getting enough sleep.

Ambyr - posted on 12/09/2010

Both of my kids go to bed at 7pm. I don't go to bed until about 11 so the time inbetween is for my bf and I to have some time together.I personally do it just for that reason and becuase I got her into the routine of going at that time. I dont think it makes a difference. It's what ever the parent wants.