7 answers

Bedtime - Temecula,CA

I have 3 kids that sleep in the same room, by choice and I let them because they do very well with it. They are 3, 5 and 6 (almost 7). When my 5 and 6 year old were toddler/ preschool age bedtime was 7:30. Now bedtime has progressed to being 8:15-8:30 and I am worried that maybe my 3 year old (or even the others) should be going to sleep earlier than this? They wake up between 6:45-7:15 in the morning and the 3 year old takes a 2 hour nap in the day time. She does not seem cranky or sleep deprived in the day... I have tried putting them to bed earlier but they will still fall asleep at the same time as when they go to bed at 8:30, usu all are asleep by about 8:40. This seems so late to me but it is hard for my older ones to go to bed when it is still a little light out, even though we have blackout curtains.

What can I do next?

More Answers

It is working for you and if your kids are waking up at a good time and are not cranky through out the day stick with it. I think my daughters bedtime has always been between 8 and 8:30pm since she was 3 (soon to be 5 years old) and she is up at 7:15am most mornings.

1 mom found this helpful

That sounds like a decent time to me. My daughter is 16 months and she always goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:30PM. She is still taking two naps a day but will get up every morning between 7:00 and 7:30AM. It sounds like you are doing a great job with all three of them in the same room.

Both my kids go to bed around 8pm, my 6 year old takes a little longer to go to sleep than my 3 year old but they are both out by 9pm, then my 6 year old is up before 6am every single day (pitty me please :)). My 3 year old usually sleeps till 6:30 in the morning and take a 2 hour nap.

So, your "new" routine (8:30 bed) seems reasonable to me.

My girlfriend has the same problem. She puts the younger girl almost 3 to bed earlier and threatens the older 2 boy 8 and girl 6 with their lives (in love of course!) if they wake up the little one. They get ready in the bathroom so there is minimal noise/distractions when it is time for them to go to bed.

She always talks about how nice it is when her older ones put the little one to bed...she can buy a few minutes during bedtime to do other things. The older ones help the little one dress, brush her teeth (they fight over it!) and read her stories.

I have an only child. I envy her!

Sounds fine to me. My 3 year old sleeps from about 8pm to about 6.45am and naps about every other day. Lucky you that your kids get along so well!

My LO is 3 and her bed time is anywhere from 8:15 - 8:30 on school nights depending on how tired she is that day. She also naps a couple hours during the day and wakes up about the same time as yours =)

On Fridays and Saturdays I let her stay up maybe 15 minutes later if we have company or a special occasion or if Daddy needs more snuggles...

What are your children's current bedtime routine? Mine are dinner (5:30pm) play for another hour, a bath, a story and a song (each child has thier own) this usually puts me at about 7-7:30 and I vary rarely here from either one. If i do i simply return sing again and usually they fall asleep half way through the song. You may also try to use soothing music to lull them to sleep while you read them a story. I am lucky because my kids are sleepers they don't wake up until 7:30-8.

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