Do your kids have a bedtime?

[Minnie824]

Do your kids have a bedtime, and does it change in the summer. I have another post just now, about neighbors out socializing and this kindof goes with it. It seems kids are out in our neighborhood til 10pm running around and stuff. My oldest DD is only 2 so I know it'll be different when shes older, but these kids are running thru everyones yards and sprinklers, and riding their bikes thru peoples grass, etc. I just dont see letting DD do stuff like that. She goes to bed by 9 now, and I'm hoping to keep that, but I was wondering if kids still even have bedtimes.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My DD's bedtime depends on the length of her nap. She is in bed between 8-9 most nights.

 

[jrydberg]

8:45pm though sometimes she'll come to me at 8:20 or so and say, "I'm ready to go to bed"

 

[onecoolmama]

My kids dont. They just tell me when they are tired. It works for us.

 

[grinningghost]

Nope. She's 15.

 

[Christine]

My kids go to bed at 8:30 during the school year and 9:00 during the summer. THe summer isn't much of a change for us since I work and the kids STILL have to get up and go to a sitter. But, I don't care if they are sleepy at the sitter but I don't want them sleepy at school.

If I didn't work and we had no schedule, I would probably be more lenient on the bedtime. And as long as the kids are supervised and not wrecking people's yards and being juvenile deliquents, I think it is WONDERFUL that they get to stay out and play. Most kids don't get to do that anymore. What you describe going on in your neighborhood--free play--is exactly how us "old folks" were raised and it is great if kids can still do this safely.

Now if they are unsupervised, rowdy, and being a problem, that is another matter.

 

[kimwim8]

my kids' bedtimes changes when the clocks change. For now in the summer, it's about 1/2 hour later, since at their normal bedtime of 8, it's still sunny.

But once the clocks change again, it'll go back (hopefully!)

 

[CamColt]

DSs are 4 & 7 and go to bed at 8:00. If they are punished for something during the day its earlier and if theyve been good and have a reason they want to stay up a little later, then I let them...but not usually much later on school nights.

 

[NMAmy]

Nope...DD is 13. She stays up till 2 or 3 a.m. I let her because then she sleeps most of the day while I'm at work and she won't get too bored! Now I have to be AT work at 7:30 so I go to bed pretty early.

Once August 1st rolls around though, I'll start making her go to bed an hour earlier each night until she's going to sleep at a reasonable time. In the summer, I figure what the heck?

 

[Disney Ella]

My kids are eight and go to bed at 8:30 during the school year and between 9:30 - 10:00 in the summer, although they are not outside running around until 10:00.

 

[oogieboogie]

Weekdays + Sunday night if a school night - 9:00 pm
Friday & Saturday night - whenever they want not over midnight

summer:
Weekdays + Sunday night - 10:00 pm at the earliest, 11:00 pm at the latest
Friday & Saturday - whenerver not past midnight

 

[cati]

xx

 

[Bob Slydell]

Typically, DS goes to bed around 9pm or so, sometimes a little earlier or later.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My dd is only 3, but she doesn't really have a bedtime. I put her to bed whenever I feel like it...which is usually between 8:30 and 10.

 

[CEDmom]

DD's bedtime is 8pm regardless of the season. Even though she only needs to get up for daycare 3 days a week it's just easier on all of us if we keep her to the same schedule.

However, we are flexible when on vacation or for other special occasions.

 

[momsully]

My 2 DS are five and 2. They go to bed by 8 o'clock every night with some nights as early as 7. They are much easier to get up and going in the morning when they get a good nights sleep. Getting them to bed also leaves me time to do things I need to get done and allows my husband and I time to talk and catch up on the day.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I am a teacher and have summer off, so the kids don't really have to go to bed at a certain time, although I encourage them to be down by 11 since they have swim team, theatre, TBall etc. in the mornings. If it's a nice evening I don't care if they are playing out front or back with us. That's the carefree summer playtime I remember and I hope they get to enjoy it as well.
DH tends to let them stay up later because he gets home later and if they were down by 9 at night, he'd only see them in the mornings. And on weekends during school we are pretty flexible--they'll stay up and watch a movie with their dad and I'LL go to bed at 10!
Come August we'll start weaning them back to an earlier bedtime, shooting for 9, although it is a RARE day they are all in bed by then. I'm happy if they are bathed by then. But this year DS will be in all day school (1st grade) and he is a bear to get up, so I imagine after a couple of weeks of that, DH will be ready to get serious about it.
Robin M.

 

[decker96]

We have DD6, DS3 and DD 9 months. Baby doesn't have a set bedtime, it depends on her naps during the day, but she's usually in bed between 8 and 9. During the school year, DD6 and DS3 are in bed at 8, in the summer it's 8:30, unless we're on vacation, visiting family or friends or have friends over. Then we're flexible.

 

[rhanditresmom]

Mine go to bed at 9:30 during the school year, otherwise they are pooped the whole next day. During the summer they are usually in bed by 10:30. I just think they still need sleep even if it is summer! They do stay up LATE when they have sleepovers....

 

[snoopy]

If they get in bed in the 9ish range, and go to sleep before 10, I'm happy.