# When's bed time for your little one(s)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 9, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004 "2013-07-09T02:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/1 "2013-07-09T02:56:11Z")
My 3 year old is in bed by 8. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/2 "2013-07-09T02:58:28Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > My 3 year old is in bed by 8. 2yo. 9-9:30. 10yo - same time. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/3 "2013-07-09T03:00:25Z")
Between seven and eight for my 1.5 year old. But at this phase he’s really extraordinarily good about going to bed when we start bedtime routine. He practically runs ahead of you and climbs in the chair when we say “Milk and a snuggle time!” It’s kind of a miracle, and I am sure both a testament to good parenting and a lifetime habit we can take for granted from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/4 "2013-07-09T03:14:13Z")
My 14 year old- 10:00. When he was an infant, 7:00. Toddler up to about age 7 was 8:00. From about age 7 to 13 was 9:00. I don’t see it going past 10:00 until he is grown up- I firmly believe that children need their sleep (and I need my alone time at night). ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/5 "2013-07-09T03:20:36Z")
Our toddler goes to bed between 7:00 and 8:00. We start the bedtime routine at 7:00 and read books, sing songs, and endure tickles (she is REALLY into tickling us) until 8:00 or until she points to her crib, letting us know she is ready to sleep, whatever comes first. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/6 "2013-07-09T03:35:03Z")
They are running around now at 11:34. 7 and 12. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/7 "2013-07-09T03:39:47Z")
Toddler (turns 3 in October) goes to bed at 7pm. We wake up around 6am (work/daycare) so want to make sure he gets a solid night’s sleep. 14 year old is sent off at 9:45pm. Gives an “extra” 15 minutes for when he ‘forgets’ the time or suddenly remembers he needs to brush his teeth or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/8 "2013-07-09T04:22:47Z")
The Firebug turns 6 later this month. 8:30 bedtime, which was my bedtime as well at the same age. > [@MandaJo](#): > > I am sure both a testament to good parenting and a lifetime habit we can take for granted from now on. I got a chuckle out of this, which I am sure was the spirit in which it was intended. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/9 "2013-07-09T05:22:19Z")
My two (3.5yrs and 18 months) go to bed around 7.30 or so - earlier it if’s been a busy day, 8 is definitely the deadline otherwise. They can chat to each other for another half an hour or so once they are in bed (they share a room), but provided it’s not raucous, we just let them get on with it. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/10 "2013-07-09T10:17:19Z")
My nine-year-old must be in bed by 7:59. He’s then allowed to read a chapter or two of his current book. (The 7:59 is psychological but works - if it were 8:00, he’d dilly-dally until 8:10 or so.) My eminently sensible fifteen-year-old doesn’t have a set bedtime, but is generally in bed before 10:00. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/11 "2013-07-09T12:21:27Z")
Both my kids are supposed to be in bed by 7:30. It can vary a little depending on what’s going on. Sometimes it’s around 8pm… sometimes it’s before 7pm. They’re 2 and 5. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/12 "2013-07-09T12:44:47Z")
My 21 month old goes to sleep around 8:20 ish, although it can be as early as 8:10 if he’s being a butt or as late as 8:30 if he’s actually paying attention to the stories we read him. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/13 "2013-07-09T12:50:39Z")
3.5 y/o boy. Almost always in bed by 8\*. If he had a busy day and didn’t nap, then I shoot for 7-7:30. He has to get up at around 6 so we can get him dropped off and me at work on time. - unless he’s with his mom, and she seems to keep him up late a lot. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/14 "2013-07-09T12:51:59Z")
Might be of interest to those reading this thread - there was a news item today about a sleep study which showed children with late or inconsistent bedtimes performed lower on reading and maths test at age 7. More info: [Late nights 'sap children's brain power' - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23223751) ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/15 "2013-07-09T13:11:35Z")
Two and a half year old daughter, 6.30pm, earlier if she’s not napped. She tends to be up at 6am-ish, so it works out. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/16 "2013-07-09T13:35:17Z")
Almost 2 year old- bedtime is 7:30 pm, more or less. Feed around 6, bath around 6:45, read books around 7:15, and in bed by 7:30 . He loves the bath and reading parts, but usually gets really uncooperative when it’s time to quit reading and go to bed. He wakes up around 6:30-7 am and usually takes a nap for between 30 minutes-2 hours at about 1 pm. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/17 "2013-07-09T13:39:40Z")
5 year old, about 8:45-9:00. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/18 "2013-07-09T13:45:51Z")
I’m so jealous of all you people right now. My kid, who’s 3 in a couple months, is usually asleep by 9:30pm, and usually wakes up around 6:00-6:30am. On rare, magical occasions, he’ll sleep past 7:00am. Lately, he’s more likely to wake up just after 5:00am, and if we’re extremely lucky, we can convince him that it’s not time to get up yet and coax him to fall asleep for another 20 minutes or so. He’s never slept more than 9 hours a night, and it’s creeping down toward 8. The problem is, when he’s up, he’s UP. He’s the one pestering us to get out of bed. If we push his bedtime back to, say, 8:30pm, then he’ll start waking up at 5:00am regularly, which I simply cannot handle. At least he’s not starting his day at 4:30am, like he used to. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/19 "2013-07-09T14:22:07Z")
Ah, the delights of a Small Person bounding into the room, bouncing on your bed, and asking loudly, “Is it morning yet, Uncle Quartz?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004/20 "2013-07-09T15:28:37Z")
2 year old, bedtime is 9 PM. That seems late when I write it out. She gets up at 7:30 AM, which is PERFECT timing because I can be up and showered and ready for work before she gets up, leaving enough time to get her breakfasted, dressed, and ready for the day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-bed-time-for-your-little-one-s/663004.md?page=2)