Summer bedtimes

[abs]

Not on a regular basis. DD won't sleep in--ever. Letting her stay up later just means less sleep overall so it's not worth it unless it's a special occasion. She still really needs an early bedtime.

[nicolewi]

My kids are up late compared to others all year (also sleep later). I'm definitely flexible in summer but there's not too huge of a change b/c of the usual late bedtimes.

[cjcouple]

Well, I am not as strict but I do work and they do go to camp at 9am M-F, so I try to stick to a consistent time. Their bedtimes are 9pm anyway so I feel like it is plenty late enough as it is. Of course weekends, movie nights, friends over and special occasions I don't sweat it if they are up later.

My boys will be almost 11 (sept) and 8.

[lala]

I am less strict about it, but if we are home, they generally still go to bed on time. They're going to be up at 6:45 regardless, so I need a break. But, we don't rush home from the pool for bedtime or anything like that.

[CrazyLucky]

Bedtimes at our house are determined by my and DH's work schedule, so they don't change during the summer. We get up early on Sunday for church too. I'd be willing to let them stay up late on Fridays, but they're usually pretty tired out from the week. Also, DS likes to wake up before 6 on Saturdays, little brat.

[dizzycooks]

We let them stay up maybe once a week for a bonfire, but it's definitely not more than an hour later because they are a mess if they don't get sleep.

[expectantsteelerfan]

My kids have early bedtimes and early waketimes. We will try to shift both SLIGHTLY later for the summer, but dh doesn't get up any later (which means I'm usually still up at 5:45), so we keep it pretty early unless it's a special occasion. Seriously, during the school year dd is in bed by 6:45 and allowed to read to herself till 7, and ds is in bed at 7:30 with lights out at 8. During the summer we might let them both stay up till 8, but that's about as late as we go unless it's a special occasion.

[gastro]

I'm pretty strict about bedtimes all year round. I guess I'm a little more lax during the summer but we are talking 15 minutes. The one day DS1 gets to stay up late is july 4. We stay right on the harbor where they shoot off the fireworks.

[Deleted]

i thought this year i was going to be more chill about summer bedtimes...but...people need their sleep and they DON'T sleep in. DS1 has an internal alarm clock like no other...so...we usually start bed stuff about 630, little boys are in bed about 7/715 and bigs 730 and fall asleep by 8. If we are out for something special (maybe once a week or once every two weeks) i don't stress it...but generally we have been sticking to regular bedtimes and they seem happier for it. (bigs are almost 6, littles are 1.5)

[fancynewbeesly]

Reese has an earlier bedtime--she goes to bed at around 7:30 during school year, but is up around 5:45-6:30 every day. On weekends, she either falls asleep on the couch if we try to keep her up past at 8, or ASKS to go to bed....even when she had sleepovers.

Maybe once in awhile a later bedtime, but I can still see it being around 7:30-8ish.

[Katiedid]

No, our kids go to bed at their normal time, usually in bed by 8:15. I need some time to unwind as well as time with DH.

[penguingrrl]

We stick with our bedtime routine, although Julia will be 10 this summer so we may start to ease up a bit with her. But she and Emma share a room, so we may keep bedtime pretty strict anyway. Our bedtime routine has generally been facilitated by their internal clocks, not outside factors related to waking up, and those don't change (in fact, my kids are like me and can't fall asleep until their body tells them it's time regardless of how early they woke up or need to wake up).

[mamaalysson]

We have generally kept it pretty close, but I stress about it less. With summer dinners outside, it being light so late, and all the extra summer fun, it's a little later than usual some nights. But they still wake up early. But DD seems to be changing her sleep habits a little, and will sleep in if she has a late night. So I may loosen the reigns on her this summer. DS will put himself to bed by 8 if we don't do it for him.

[nowa]

Jun 2, 2017 7:25:12 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

We stick with our bedtime routine, although Julia will be 10 this summer so we may start to ease up a bit with her. But she and Emma share a room, so we may keep bedtime pretty strict anyway. Our bedtime routine has generally been facilitated by their internal clocks, not outside factors related to waking up, and those don't change (in fact, my kids are like me and can't fall asleep until their body tells them it's time regardless of how early they woke up or need to wake up).

How is she almost 10!!?? Time is freaking me out.

[penguingrrl]

Jun 3, 2017 8:50:30 GMT -5 nowa said:

Jun 2, 2017 7:25:12 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

We stick with our bedtime routine, although Julia will be 10 this summer so we may start to ease up a bit with her. But she and Emma share a room, so we may keep bedtime pretty strict anyway. Our bedtime routine has generally been facilitated by their internal clocks, not outside factors related to waking up, and those don't change (in fact, my kids are like me and can't fall asleep until their body tells them it's time regardless of how early they woke up or need to wake up).

How is she almost 10!!?? Time is freaking me out.

I know!!!! its bananas!

[court26]

DH is very strict about bedtime. BUT, I get up during the week for the gym, so I am asleep by 9 usually. If we want to hang out at all without them, they have to go. At least I think that is his logic. I would love to be a little flexible with their sleep, but they get overtired so quickly! During school we try for lights out at 8 (and they usually read by flashlight for a little while). Occasionally with sports and activities, it is later, but they struggle. In the summer I could see 8:30? It is hard. Currently, DD is crashing on DS's floor as neither like to be alone, and she needs more sleep than he does. In short, I am going to try to be a little "fun" and flexible, but I am not super optimistic!

[L From The D]

We will keep close to our usual bedtime until our WDW vacation because we have a lot of early mornings planned. When we get back, we'll probably be slightly more relaxed.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Dr always falls asleep by 7 on her own so we don't adjust hers. DS is allowed to stay up until 9 on weekend nights/summer. He's not sensitive about sleep like DD is so it just means he sleeps until 8 vs getting up at 7.

[honeydew1894]

I think we will slightly. DS (almost 5) is staying up in his bedroom until 8:30 when we go up around 7:30/45. We might let him stay downstairs until 8, and then read in bed.

DD is almost 2, and will probably only get bumped back to 7:30.

Neither kid really sleeps in, so DS is usually up at 6:30 am regardless of when he went to bed.

[Dezi]

I let them stay up later because I'm home all summer and I want to sleep in.

[quesyrah]

I don't because regardless of what time my kids go to bed they get up at the same time- 6:30.

Occasionally for special events I let them stay up but it's rare.

[cabbagecabbage]

We are early to bed people. DH routinely leaves for work at 5am and the baby is up by 6 every day. DD goes to bed at 8:00 and occasionally we'll let it slide until even 9:00 out of laziness but she does better with the early time. She will sleep in but since no adults can, we might as well fall asleep while it's light out!