How long is your bedtime routine?

**Witwicky** · 11-01-2012 20:01

My friend IRL was shocked at the length of our bedtime 'routine' here, which has made me wonder what is average. Obviously it depends on lots of things, including age of children/how many children/special needs etc etc. But still curious.

I have two boys, DS1 is 2.5 years old, DS2 is 8 months old, and our routine takes roughly three to four hours. Sometimes less, but not often. They don't have special needs but DS2 is very spirited and takes a long time to wind down. I actually start the wind down process long before shower time, but it's not included in the 3-4 hours.

We have a shower together and then they go into their nappies & PJ's. We read a story or two and then sing a lullaby while I breastfeed DS2 to sleep. Then DS1 and I go and brush his teeth and then read several more stories, and then I lay down with him until he falls asleep (can take anywhere from 5 mins to an hour+!). Sometimes DS2 will wake up again and I settle him back down with a quick suckle.

Some nights I put DS2 down prior to DS1, but I prefer to do it all at the same time (showers etc), I just find it easier that way.

**brooke88(mum2b09)** · 11-01-2012 20:09

My DD's are 2 and a half and we do dinner, shower, give them cuddles and kisses and send them to bed with their milk in a sippy cup all in an hour

That being said though one of them has night terrors and I had to start giving her a dummy again because I was getting up to her like a newborn...

**Guest1234** · 11-01-2012 20:11

Not very long. 6.30pm we all sit and chat/cuddle then 7pm hop into bed, read a quick story then lights out.

**Lexie and Zekes Mum** · 11-01-2012 20:13

With my 2, they have dinner, bath, brush teeth, Zeke has a bottle and is put in his cot at around 7, with Lexie we read a book and I lay with her until she falls asleep around 7:30-8pm. So from Dinner to actual Sleep is 2 hours

**share a book** · 11-01-2012 20:14

I tried to have her fed by 5.30, then in the bath and in bed asleep by 6.30 when she was a baby/toddler.

**RmumR** · 11-01-2012 20:19

dinner at 6pm, bath and pj's at 630, read 2 books and both in bed by 715

**breakthemould** · 11-01-2012 20:19

DS is nearly 2.5 and DD 5 months.

At 6 DS has dinner, at 6.20ish they both has a bath or shower, at 6.30 I massage DD while DS watches In The Night Garden while I lay down and BF DD. Then DH reads a story to DS and both kids are asleep by 7.15.

So 1hr 15 mins tops

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**lil miss** · 11-01-2012 20:25

Ours varies nightly (which annoys me no end!) but standard lately is:
Dinner - between 7 and 7.30 (depends on how lazy I feel)
Bath- 7.30/ 7.45
5 minutes play (I set an alarm on my phone)
Bed 8-8.30

Both DDs have the same routine, I find it easier to do everything together. They are 4.5 and 18 months.

Me + He = DD1 (2007), DD2 (2010) & BellyBaby due August 2012
Angel Baby 1 (July 2008) & Angel Baby 2 (October 2011)

**share a book** · 11-01-2012 20:26

I have a friend who often leaves places by 3.30pm to start "night routone" for her 3 year old to have him asleep by 8 yet when he comes here I have him in bed by 7.30 and we often don't get home until after 6.

**CakeyLoaf** · 11-01-2012 20:32

Generally we do dinner at 5pm or 5:30pm, bath at about 6:30pm and we try to have her in bed by 7pm and asleep by about 7:15pm. The other night though, she wasn't in bed until 8:30pm but she was very happy and quite chilled out playing with a little book so I left her. I generally just go by her 'signs' so sometimes, yeh she will be up for ages but not often!