What is a good way to put my two sons in bed by 9:30pm?

Question

My oldest son is the one who is in school, because he is almost seven and my other one is almost three. I work first shift and my husband second shift. So sometimes my kids stay up with me until I can go to sleep, trying to get things done. Sometimes that means 10:00 or almost 11:00pm. I know that my oldest son needs to go to bed earlier so that he can perform better in school, so what can I do to hurry up and get to bed with them earlier? I get frustrated when I am still trying to get clothes ready for the next day at 10:00pm.

Answer 1

♥ ♥ tell them all things have a designated time... play time, school time, chore time... so spend some time with them just before bedtime.. then explain that this is bedtime and after that is mommy chore time ♥ ♥

Answer 2

When do they get home from school and when do you come home from work?

Are your dinners planned out in advance so that dinner doesn't take up a lot of your time in the evenings? You can do some prep work when you bring food home from the store. You can do crockpot cooking while you are at work so it's ready when you get home. Pick simple stuff so that cooking/eating/cleaning up doesn't consume your entire evening.

On the weekends you could pick out 5 outfits for school and have them all ready for the whole week. Have a little basket or bin that they are set out in for a whole week. Or store your child's clothes in their dressers as outfits - shirt and pants together, etc. - so that they can make a choice themselves. If it would help, label their drawers with pictures or words to help them find the right thing. ("School clothes" vs. "play clothes" or "long sleeve" vs. "short sleeve" or something.)

Make sure there is a spot where backpacks and coats are set so they will be easy to grab in the morning.

Make a chart (pictures and/or words) of things the kids need to do before bed. This can help give them some independence in getting ready for bed. Tell them to "do your list" and see how far along they can get on their own.

Send the oldest one to bed to have quiet time looking at books while you are doing other things.

Set up a bedtime routine. Dinner, maybe a bath, PJ's, some storytime and then lights out. Then stick to it.

My kids are almost 8, almost 6 and almost 4 years old. They all go to bed around 8:30 every night. (Sometimes the 4 year old is up later if she napped that day.)

Answer 3

What is your husband doing to help? What time frame are we looking at for you getting home and him leaving for work? It's almost impossible to help set a schedule without knowing those. But if he's home during the day, the dishes should be done from those meals, everything tidy as part of the boys afternoon cleanup. You shouldn't have a whole bunch to do except make and clean dinner, and getting the boys for bed.

Our routine starts right after supper, we finish around seven pm, the kids help with dishes, and then it's straight to bathtime at 7:30. When your son gets pj's on, it's a good time to pick out clothes for tomorrow and get his school stuff together. Our children are allowed to play quietly, and I'd suggest if you don't see them all day to spend this time with them. At 8pm, everyone tidies what they were playing with (even our three year old, they can pick up too) and we have a family bible reading. Then everyone waits in bed for a story, from 8:30 til 9pm. At nine pm, lights out. That's when dh and I fine clean what the kids have done, and spend time doing whatever else needs done (pay bills, extra work, etc)

I wish you the best of luck, of course, I'm imagining the worst because we don't KNOW what's going on at your house. If dh isn't helping, put your foot down on that now!

Answer 4

Why don't you put them to bed early and then do your things around the house? I would think that would be easier on you. Then you could spend a little time with them without rushing around. My son is 8 and is in bed by 8:30. When he was 7 it was 8:00. They need rest and I know you realize that. I think you should just do your housework or whatever it is you need to do after they go to sleep, it might even get done quicker.

Answer 5

Establish a routine. Set a dinner time, then after dinner, they have x amount of time to read a book, watch a specific show, play a game, etc. Start herding them upstairs by 7:30, bath, brush teeth, pj's and in bed . Read them a story, give them 15 -20 minutes to adjust and then lights out by 8:30! it'll take a few weeks to establish a routine, but they'll appreciate it and get into the swing of things

Answer 6

What time do you get out of work in the afternoon or evening? And is it necessary that the boys be awake when you get their clothes together?

You put them in bed at the time you want them in bed. If you wake them up early enough then there shouldn't be too much of a problem getting them in bed earlier. It will take a little adjustment but they will get used to it.

Answer 7

You should have your older son in bed earlier, regardless if you get to go to bed or not! He's old enough to get his own clothes ready for the next day, so that's one less thing for your to do. Nobody said you get to go to bed when they do!!! You are the adult, put your Son to bed at a reasonable hour and so what if you have to stay up later to get things done! That's life!

Answer 8

try starting there bedtime early. If they have ato be in bed at 9 start bathtime at 730 the read a book, some playtime then bed. Stick to it and they will eventually go down easier. My son is 6 and hes in bed by 9. We start at 8.

Answer 9

You should give them a bath and some warm milk and set them off to bed. You have the kids up late with you for company..but you can't do that ...let them go off to sleep while you do your chores...the house might be lonely but it'll be quiet enough so you can focus your attention on getting your work done.

Answer 10

what we do is once home work is done all clothes are to be laid out including socks and underwear, then they are allowed free/play time. They have to be in thier room by 8:30 and lights out at 9 those are times I use for my kids others use different times to adjust to how much sleep the child needs.

Answer 11

Start getting them into a routine. I have a 6yr old and a 3yr old and I get them to bed at 9pm by starting at about 7:30pm. They get their bath, ready for bed, brush teeth, get water, go to the bathroom and then it's bedtime. Another option to try is books on tape....my kids LOVE those.