Late bed times for children... Why?

Question

Why would you put your child to bed at 10 or 11pm? If you do, how many hours of sleep are they getting at night? What is the reasoning behind the late hour?
My daughter (1 year old) has had a bed time of 8:00 pm, or close to it, since she was only a few months old. She sleeps 10 or 11 hours a night. This gives my husband and I some time to ourselves to clean up or do "whatever".
I would appreciate the insite. Thanks!

Answer 1

All of my children have later bedtimes. My husband works later and we do this in order for him to see them more. He is very involved with the kids, and I think it is important for him to have as much time with them as possible. I am a stay at home mom and my children are not in school yet so we do not need to get up at a certain time. Once they are in school, we will rework our schedule to fit them. Until then, our schedule revolves around his. We still have time for ourselves. In fact, our schedule is very much like yours, but just a few hours later in the day.

Answer 2

My son usually goes to bed around 8:30, but if we are visiting someone, or out of the house for some other reason and are busy, then he'll go to bed as soon as we get home.... We don't let it happen too often, but when it does, we don't stress... Some times there are other things going on and we have to tend to it... And sometimes daddy works a little late and he just has to wait for him.. ( which on those nights he usually tries to wait up but instead falls asleep in his daddy's recliner)... And he won't sleep unless he is in his own bed, unless he is staying the night with his g-ma and g-pa. He is only 3 right now, but when he starts school it will be more strict. Right now, it is just not a huge issue. The latest he'll stay up is maybe 10... Once it happened to be 11. But usually it is of some very good reason. Also, if he does stay up later, he still wakes at the same time. (9am) but he actually takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon on those days. (He usually won't nap at all)... So he does get around the same amount of sleep either way...


Also... I am due in 6 weeks, and I am sure that it will be more strict with bedtime as with two children it is harder to get out than with one, so we probably won't be out doing stuff and visiting at those times as much are we are now.....

Answer 3

I had my baby "31 years ago".
Until he was about 4 years old he always went to bed at 7.00pm.
This way mum and dad can have some time together.

But times have changed. Employers are keeping their personnel working for longer hours, and so husbands/partners are not seeing their children. Whatever time your husband/partner comes home, he has to see your baby.

I would suggest :
If your other half comes home at 7.00pm you put your baby down to sleep at 8.00pm or 8.30pm. This gives him time with the baby.
Obviously babies get fed at certain hours, so it could be a great idea to serve your baby a snack while you and your man are eating dinner. This way he can help and get involved.
It amazes me that so many men don't see their kids grow up these days ... they work long hours and get home late. So if there is someway (above) that you can give your man a couple of hours with your baby during the working week .... you will have a very close relationship.
And let's face it .... two hours with your man, you and the baby isn't a big sacrifice. And you will be so much closer. You will all be one of the lucky ones.

Answer 4

We really enjoy our kids and sometimes keep them up with us just to hang out with them. They're 1 and 3, but they sleep about 10 hours a night no matter what time they go to bed. They also take a 2-3 hour nap every day. When we do get them to bed by 8:00, we miss them but we love our time together as a couple.

Answer 5

Not every family operates on the same schedule. I used to work until midnight. My son would go to bed at 9:00 so that he would sleep in and so could I. They still sleep the same amount, just different hours. Some people work nights. If you work from 11pm to 7am, you can't very well have your kid getting up at 8am. That's why. What works for some people's schedule might not work for others. Neither is right or wrong. Everyone has to do what works for their own family.

Answer 6

My daughter (15 months) is usually up until 10:30. She sleeps 11 or 12 hours, so she doesn't wake up until about 10 AM. I'm a night owl too, so guess she gets it from me. It works for me because I would not be happy if she was up at 6 or 7 AM. I don't go to bed until 1 or 2 AM, so I like to sleep in or if I want I get up early and do stuff then. She naps in the late afternoon, in fact she is sometimes waking up from a nap around the same time some babies are getting ready for bed.
It's funny, when she was "younger" she would sometime catnap during the evening, but she wouldn't stay asleep. It just seemed like she wanted to be wake with us. It really works well because I can take her to a friends for dinner or go out to eat at a normal dinner hour. I've never like to eat dinner at 6, 8 is our dinnertime. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Answer 7

why does it matter what other people do? My kid used to stay up late because I had a job where I worked late and she wouldnt sleep at the sitters. We both slept in, so she got enough sleep. She is now in school and I no longer work that job so things have changed now, but eveybody has their reasons. My kid goes to bed at 9:00 now which I think is fine. She gets AT LEAST 8 hours of sleep

Answer 8

For one, all kids are different. I have an 8 year old that if she goes to sleep at 8pm will be wide awake at 3 in the morning...NOT GOOD! If she goes to bed at 10 she sleeps till 7 and gets up just fine! My 16 year old on the other hand, Could go to bed at 5pm and still not get enough sleep! I would rather them get a GOOD nights sleep than see them wake up, go back to sleep, wake up....You get the idea right?? All kids are different....if this is your first child, good luck and you will probably notice that her sleeping habits will change!!

Answer 9

My 9 yr old goes to bed at 9:00pm everynight. My 1 yr old goes to bed very late...10:30-11:00. I do this because if I send her earlier, she will wake up in the middle of the night. Now she sleeps until 7-8am which is the time I need her to get up in the morning so that I could take them to school/sitter & I could go to work.

Answer 10

I won't put my kids to bed later then 8 or 8:30 on a regular night. They are 4 and 3. The earlier they go to bed the later they sleep. Mine usually get 12-14 hours of sleep and they need that. The only time I put them to bed later is if we are at a family function, and they are always up by 6 the next morning. It sort of messes up my system, but I can get over it.

Answer 11

my daughters bed time varied, she used to sleep at 7pm.. then it was 9pm.. her daddy would get home at different times due to work and school and if i couldnt get her to bed before he walked in.. she was up for at least another hour.

No matter when she went to bed she is always up at 7: 30 on the dot. So it doesnt in anyway give me extra sleep. In fact I loose it!! but usually the late or odd bedtimes come from a week of teething or being sick, or something thats not planned like that.

besides things like that... after a few months of getting to know her I realized that if i tried to put her to bed before she was ready it would be an endless battle, and i would end up frustrated because it would take 2 hrs..when i would have had the same result, but more pleasant, if i didnt force her. so I watch her clues, and I put her to sleep when I know its time. Its usually consistant between 730-830, but if i start the routine and i can see shes not ready, i do give her another hour. it makes for happier baby and mommy. i hope this gives you some insight.