We’re strict about bedtime in our house.
At 8 o’ clock every evening I change one year old Wade into his PJs and lay him in his crib.
Five year old David is sent to use the bathroom one more time, brush his teeth and change into his PJs. If David doesn’t get distracted, as five year old boys are apt to do, and he’s ready quickly, I read a story to him. Then Dad comes in and we all pray together, and we sing to David.
The goal is lights out by 8:30. David is really good at delaying that. Some nights it’s 8:45. If it goes past 9, Mommie starts to get really grouchy.
I believe that a regular bedtime routine and schedule is an important part of helping children sleep well. Going through the same motions every night winds them down after a long day. Doing it at the same time every night sets their internal clock so that they’re ready for sleep.
A good night’s sleep is important for both developing brains, and growing bodies.
I wish I could tell you that my children’s well being is the noble cause behind my bedtime autocracy.
Really it’s kinda more about my well-being.
I need those two or three hours every night after they go to bed. Hours free from children to read, blog, watch TV, have uninterrupted grown-up conversations with my husband. It’s the only part of the day when I don’t have to wipe someone’s rear end, get someone some milk or clean up someone’s mess.
There are some days that the only thing that gets me through the day is looking forward to 8:30 p.m.
So do you strictly enforce bedtime at your house? Why or why not?
Bedtime is a routine in our household and my kids are in bed between 8 and 8:30 every night. I’ve got it down to a science and because I started this early on I believe that’s why we rarely have problems at bedtime. I work full time so we get up fairly early. It’s important they get to bed by 8:30 so they can get enough sleep. And in my eyes, kids have no business being up late anyway.
.-= Michelle @ Mommy Loves Stilettos´s last blog ..♥You Are Still Older Than Me 🙂 =-.
We had NO trouble with the older kids, but the four-year old has not had a routine.
Can you say SPORTS cuz the older ones were playing softball, baseball, football, etc. when the littlest was born…and anyone in little league here in MN knows that little kids games can sometimes start at 8pm OR LATER!
I am LUCKY on days she falls asleep at 9pm.
ab.so.lut.ely. like you said, it’s vital to my mental well-being. i need that time to pick up the house, have an actual conversation with the husband, and just take a brain-rest.
.-= alison´s last blog ..all the small things…. =-.
Clearly, I am the worst mom on the block. I don’t enforce going to sleep at a certain time. We have a routine that starts with baths and stories at 7, but if they stay up until 9 or 10 watching Disney, I don’t get bent out of shape. For the most part, they stay in their beds, but they just don’t go to sleep right away. I am a chronic insomniac. Chronic may be an understatement. I only sleep about 4 hours a night, and two of my three children are the same way. We cuddle, watch TV, read stories, and do other quiet things while the rest of the house sleeps. To each his own…
Yes, you’re right about to each his own. I don’t think there is a right answer. It’s whatever works for your family and your kids.
Kids’ brains absolutely MUST get enough sleep to process, learn, and retain all information the absorb during the day. This is a scientific fact with more research supporting it by the year. In fact, a scary high percentage of kids are sleep deprived. I firmly believe that lack of sleep contributes to many kids’ behavior problems.
We are VERY firm on bedtime – and definitely had a routine like that when they were younger (now almost 11 and almost 9). Now they like to follow their own routines, but on a school night and even most weekends, they are IN BED with LIGHTS OUT no later than 9. In the summer, when we can sleep in, we relax the times a bit, but we still make sure they are GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY to sleep at least 10-12 hours a night most nights.
Of course, we can’t force them to sleep – notice I said they are GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY to sleep- but we CAN enforce no lights, no music, no reading – just quiet laying there. Even my niece and nephew, who my ILs INSIST don’t nap and don’t need to (at 4 and 6) fall asleep fast when they sleep at my house. We have also said ‘no thank you’ to sports, dance, or music programs whose regular rehearsals or practice schedules do not allow us all to be home by 7:00 pm. Sleep is THAT IMPORTANT – to them AND to us!
My husband leaves for work at 5:30 am, so he is in bed by 9. I’m a night owl, so I love love LOVE to stay up late! But I do sleep in and nap when I can and only pull the late night-owl gig a few times a week.
Well…my monkey man is still 6mos old so yea…lol. But we do make it earlier because he doesnt like to nap during the day. We try to put him to bed anytime after 5:30, Usually 6, but sometimes a little earlier…sometimes a little later. I do hafta say though he gets up butt early though. Man I miss getting up after 8am. I agree with you – I cherish that time after Monkey Man goes to bed…its the precious time Mr. Man and I can spend together.
I don’t have a strict bedtime in my house. I know I’m a bad mommie! They get to stay up until they start getting on my nerves or 10, whichever comes first.
.-= Nancy M.´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Oh, I don’t think it makes you a bad mom. It’s just what works for you.
When my kids were younger I was a bit, shall we say, anal about bedtimes. And schedules. It was the only way I could survive; I thrive on routine. We started the bedtime routine when they were babies. Dinner, quiet playtime, bath, books and bed. I think my kids probably went to bed earlier than most of their friends, it was 7:30 for a long time when they were in elementary school, and it very slowly got pushed back little by little.
Now that they are teens, bedtime during the school week is 9:30-10pm. I prefer 9:30, but I know that they don’t go right to sleep when they lie down at 9:30, they listen to music or read for awhile.
I wish they didn’t fight sleep so much though. Now that it’s summer and they’re so much more active, they are so tired. On baseball game days I suggest that my son take a quick nap, so he’s rested for a late game. You would think I suggested cutting off his arm! One day they will appreciate sleep, and napping!
.-= Sheri´s last blog ..Summer fun – should there be a limit? =-.
Yes, I always tell my five year old, “Someday when you’re old you’ll get excited about getting to take a nap.”
We’re not strict on bedtimes. Church keeps us out until 8 or 9 on two evenings of the week, and we come home after 6 when we have gymnastics, then I have to start dinner. We have a general time frame when they go to bed when we’re home all day, but we can’t keep a strict schedule.
My kids do get sleep though. Since we homeschool, they generally get to sleep until they wake up. I rarely have to wake them up; on the rare occasion I have to wake up my daughter, she usually stayed up too late in bed reading.
.-= Brooke Lorren´s last blog ..What is a Lobster Network? =-.
Read is a great reason to stay up late! I think as long as they get enough sleep a schedule isn’t really important.
Definitely enforce it around here.
Though, during the school year, it was 6:30. Yes, 6:30.
Since it’s summer, it’s somewhere between 7 and 7:30. A little bit more reflexibility, but I don’t want them to get used to staying up too late. Plus, my boys are all up at the same time in the morning even if they stay up- they are just crabbier. LOL
LOVE your tagline, btw.
Yes, we have an enforced bedtime, it seemed to help Jack when he was a baby. So, we started out with a routine, then started doing it the same time every night. With Justin being 3 months old, he already has a bedtime routine, and I usually try to have him asleep by 9, doesn’t always happen, but that’s to be expected.
Since the other 2 started sharing a room, they go to bed at the same time each night, and they have a routine, but then they party in their room until they drop. Daddy tries to get them to stay in their beds, but doesn’t always happen.
I find it works better for the boys, and also for me. My boys get up at the same time every morning, so I need the break at night. I am starting to get it more with Justin which helps to get me ready for the next day.
I changed by url by the way, if you want to check out my new blog.
yes! yes! yes! i am a firm believer in this. since our girls share a room they are both in bed at 8 p.m. that means we start bedtime routines between 7-7:30 p.m. depending upon the need of a bath or not. i totally need that down time in the evening too especially since peanut no longer naps. i agree that it is very beneficial to them. they get a full night of sleep and are ready for a new day in the morning. i believe it is SO important!
my baby’s bedtime is almost always 9pm or earlier, but sometimes when she gets her long afternoon nap, she’s up until 11pm.
she’ll take her afternoon nap at around 1pm and wakes up at 5pm, the effect would be late sleeping time.
when she sleeps late, she’ll wake up late…
i’m enforcing sleeping early but sometimes there are instances when i need to consider late night sleeping…. but not always! ;p
by the way, thanks for dropping by my blog… you can also visit my baby’s blog here… http://www.littlezoiessteps.com.