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When is bedtime for your kids?

Posted September 2, 2015 - 4:53pm

Let's talk bedtime. Do you keep a strict bed time? Do all of your kids go to bed at the same time? I have an 8 year old, 6 year old and a 4 year old and we try to have them in bed at 8 pm. Is that too early?

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beachcitymom

I have one child and he is almost 12. His bedtime during summer has been a lot more lax..but during the school year his bedtime is 9-915. He has had that same bedtime for a few years. I can't quite remember what time his bedtime was at 8. When he was 4, I know it was 8 pm. 


Frugal Minded M...

In the summer I am very lax on bed times, but during the school year, my 9 year old is in bed by 8, the 11 year old gets until 8:15, my 14 year old is 9:00 and the 17 year old is 9:30 to 10.  Now I don't make it totally lights out at those times, but they have to be laying in their beds quietly reading or watching a show on their Kindles.  The younger ones get about 30 minutes of this time, before I say times up.


Hallz105

Same here — 8:00 is in their rooms but not necessarily lights out.  We don't allow devices though or they'd stay up all night!


Frugal Minded M...

I go and take those kindles out of the room after 9.


CandyOvercaffed

8:00 is the intended bedtime for both my 9 yo and 5 yo. We haven't hit it every night since school has started but we've done OK. My 9 yo hates it but she needs her sleep so it's what we are doing for now. 


jonbonjovious

I'm strict on bedtimes. From Kindergarten to second grade my children all had the bedtime of 7pm. After 2nd grade, they earned 15 minutes for each grade (3rd grade 7:15; 4th grade 7:30; 5th grade 7:45). Once they start middle school their bedtime is 8:30--but they get 30 minutes to read or listen to music. 


Hallz105

What time do they get up in the morning?  We used to do 7 pm too but then they started getting up really early in the morning.


Frugal Minded M...

I am so going to share this with my kids.  They think I am mean for putting them to bed at 8.


jonbonjovious

My kiddos get up between 6:30 and 7am. They have never complained. I think they appreciate the downtime--though my 11 year old has gone to a few sleepovers and when I pick her up, the mom or my daughter's friend will tell me, "She was the first one out!" 


sunnykathleen

When my kids were that age I had them go to be between 745 and 8 also.


Your Kid's Table

It's so nice to hear how strict you all are on bedtimes! I feel like most of the parents around me (we live in a neighborhood with a lot of kids) have their kids up really late. We aim for 8:00, but it is often a little after. 


beachcitymom

I know what you mean...I hear about many kids that don't go to bed until 10 or after and they are 10 and 11.


Hallz105

I think if I wasn't home with my kids all day they might have a little later bedtime so I would have more time to spend with them.  Still, kids need their sleep so I don't understand super late bedtimes, especially during the school year.


Frugal Minded M...

I understand your point about not being home.  My husband often doesn't get home until 7:45, so he barely sees the kids.  For this reason, until they go to school their bed time isn't set in stone.


jonbonjovious

We know these kids you speak of--there is a family of kiddos down the street from us who do not have a bedtime. We see them with bags and dark cicles under their eyes--and they roam the streets until almost midnight (even on school nights). 


Momofboys

During the summer, I am a little more lenient. However, when school kicks in it is a strict 8pm bedtime. (8:30 at the latest if we do an activity afterschool).


beachcitymom

yes, I just heard of teenagers that do not even have a set bedtime at all. I can't imagine. The neighbor down our street has three children (all under 9) and they are often out past 10 pm at night unsupervised. Hoping this changes when they start school this week.. 


Your Kid's Table

Right, beachcity mom, I just don't know how they are functioning!


CandyOvercaffed

Maybe I'm a huge nerd, but part of the reason I am big on early bedtimes is how sleep affects brain function. We've always had early bedtimes here and my girls are at the top of their respective classes. I don't think that's a coincidence.


beachcitymom

I agree...I notice when my son doesn't get enough sleep..there is a difference in his behavior.