Bed time routine, time frame?

[buddylovebabi]

I was wondering what the time frame of other families' bedtime routines were.

Ours takes a little over an hour, and include cleaning up after dinner , brushing teeth, taking baths, getting PJs on, reading and tuck in's.

[gmamma]

Personally, I had a bedtime routine when i was growing up. I was given an hour to do everything and, if I wasn't in bed on time, I was in trouble. I had to wear nightgowns that I couldn't stand. I wasn't given an option. I hated it. So with my kids, they have a choice. It normally takes them 10 mins or less. I tell them they have 10 mins before bed and they brush their teeth and pick out their school clothes for the next day. If they get ready quick enough then they can watch a couple mins of tv or play. My kids have PJs but usually they don't bother with them. I don't mind as long as they are comfortable. On the evenings that they bathe, I usually don't include it in the bedtime routine. I usually have them bathe before dinner while I'm cooking. I don't do "bedtime stories" either. I tried it a few times but my kids would get into the story and get excited and want to talk after the story. We read during the day when they have plenty of energy and can't use it as an excuse to stay up later.

[Xero]

We have a pretty normal bed time routine. He goes to bed at the same time every night and gets up at the same time every morning (I think this is really important, doesn't matter what time you pick for the most part as long as its always the same). About an hour or two before bed we all start to relax, a lot of times I'll turn on a movie for him or something similar. Half hour before bed I start to warn him of the time, letting him know that bed time is approaching. That seems to help him to be more prepared when the time comes, so its not like "surprise! lets go!" and he needs that feeling of where the time is going by me telling him considering he can't tell time himself yet. A little before bed, he has a cup of milk. When the time comes, he goes potty or at least tries, then I brush his teeth (and he practices doing it himself afterwards), then he changes into PJ's if he isn't already in some and I put a diaper on him (he's not night time potty trained yet, but I think he's ready and we're going to give it a try soon). Then he gets all comfy in bed under the covers and we read a book or two. When we're done reading he gives mommy and daddy hugs and kisses and we say our good nights and I love you's and he usually goes to sleep with no trouble at all.

[xox.ilu.xox]

We have a pretty normal routine like Xero. Hayleigh usually goes to bed between 730 and 830, depending on what she has done during the day. After dinner I make her a bath, and while Im doing dishes she plays in the tub (our bathroom door is VERY close to our kitchen) Once shes done her bath we get jammies on and brush her teeth, then we read a story or two. Some nights its harder to get her to sleep so I cuddle with her and tickle her cheek or arm and she dozes off. Shes usually up around 730/8am.

[Xero]

Sometimes Eli asks us to lay with him until he falls asleep too, and we will do that every now and again.

Our bathroom is also really close and open to our living room, and we tend to let Eli play on his own in there at this age too. I can hear and partially see like every move he makes in there lol. And he stays in for around an hour every time because he LOVES playing in the tub, so I'm thankful for our bathroom positioning.

[xox.ilu.xox]

omigosh yes! Hayleigh LOVES the bath too! She would play for hours if id let her haha. Tonight for instance, she flipped out cuz I told her the water was to cold and she had to come out haha. kids i tell ya!

[Jeremy+3]

The youngest three tend to go to bed at around the same time, we start bedtime at 6:30 the big light goes off and we don't do too much energetic play, like physical play. Then they all have a bath, normally at about 7:30, then at 8 they go to bed, it can be earlier or later though as we aren't strict on bedtime, it depends how tired or awake they are.

We tend not to do bedtime stories we normally just talk about what they have done that day, so with Jade she just makes up some cracking lies. Then we say night to Jake and Jade and then put Livvy in our bed, or if she falls asleep before then we normally just keep her on mine or on Aune's lap until we got to bed or until she wakes up.