Bedtime Today - Are There Too Many Distractions?
Categories: Playground Bureau, Bedtime
Each spring, Daylight Savings Time brings a barrage of bedtime complaints. "Why do we have to go to bed? It's still light out!" Well, first of all, it's barely still light out, I tell my kids. And what I think but don't tell them is that in another month, we're going to have to pull the shade at bedtime to hide the sun.My kids go to bed early. On school nights, we start the (admittedly long) process at 6:30 with the hope that everyone is asleep by 7:30. Eight o'clock at the very latest. I don't do this for myself -- though I did wonder once in those early years if 5:30 was too early to put a baby to bed. No, it's for them. At their ages, six and nearly four, my girls still need a solid 11-12 hours of sleep every night. And when they don't get it, we all pay.
I remember complaining about my own bedtime as a child, but I think it's a lot harder to stick to a bedtime schedule today than it used to be.
Take Noggin, for example, which used to shut down at 6:00 p.m., a clear sign to kids that it was time to wrap things up for the day. Now you can catch Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! at midnight (though I'm not sure why you'd want to). When we were kids, the sun set and playtime was over. But today, kids -- and adults, for that matter -- have access to the programs, games, and websites they love 24/7. Bedtime means missing out on fun time! Or at least that's what I'm hearing from my kids.
You can't depend on kids, then, to let you know when they're tired. Instead, it's up to parents to know how much sleep their kids need. Here are some averages, which include daytime and nighttime sleep:
- 0-1 year: 13-16 hours
- 2-4 years: 11-13.5 hours
- 5-9 years: 10-11 hours
- 10-14 years: 9-10 hours
- 15-18 years: 8-9 hours
Studies have shown that with consistent sleep and wake times, the body will eventually start to feel sleepy at the same time every night. This is good news for parents. Build a consistent bedtime into your schedule, and ease kids into it with a regular routine that might include some or all of the following:
- Lowering the lights and turning off all electronics 30-60 minutes before bed.
- A light snack that includes both protein and carbs.
- A warm bath, if it's required.
- Potty, jammies, and teeth brushing.
- Cuddle time, especially with your favorite books.
- Soft music.
Do you put your kids to bed early or let them stay up to spend time with the family? And if you have a regular bedtime routine, share a tip with us that might help other parents who are still struggling with bedtime.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mary Sullivan 3-11-2009 @ 10:02AM
Our kids (11, 10, and 10) don't usually do screen/tech stuff right before bed, so that's not the issue so much here. Homework is usually what keeps them up. They do most before dinner, but that's pushed dinner to 6:30 or so as they've gotten older. Sleep is one thing that was much easier when they were little. They should be getting 10 hrs/night now but rarely do, except weekends. :(
I think you're smart to get your young kids the sleep they need. At least they'll have some good habits in place for later, and they probably get sick less than kids who sleep less.
Mary
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kate 3-11-2009 @ 10:16AM
We are pretty strict about bedtime and routines in our house - it started very early with our daughter (now 3), who was such a fussy infant that we went whole-hog with Dr. Weissbluth's book, following it religiously to get her sleeping and return us to sanity. The benefit has been that we established a bedtime routine right away, to which she's accustomed. It made it easier to start off on the same foot with our son (4 months).
We start bedtime - for both kids - between 6 and 6:30. While my daughter gets more semi-active play (usually a craft of some sort) with dad - so I can feed and bathe baby - we keep the TV off and try to keep things low-key. It's definitely a juggle with two at such developmentally different stages! But, we emphasize quiet, calm, and relaxing with both. A little easier with the baby. Our daughter's bedtime is 8. Our son's used to be, and now he's shifting that earlier as he gets older (which is pretty typical, based on our experience).
And we swear by consistency. If something interferes with the schedule (guests over for dinner, a late night at work), we still stick to "in bed by 8". That may mean we skip the bath, or fewer books read. We also pay a lot of attention to our kids' cues - if they are signaling that they need to go to bed earlier, we put them to bed. My husband and I work, we both feel like our time with our kids is all too short, but we are not about to sacrifice their sleep/health for an extra game of Candy Land (especially since that would inevitably end in tears and crabby kids and parents!).
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Joy 3-11-2009 @ 12:10PM
I feel that consistent betimes are very important. Kids need that and I think it leads to good sleeping habits as adults. We never really varied to much with our boys. Even in the summer when there was no school. They need sleep and they don't necessarily know it so it's up to the parents to see to it that they get what they need. I agree that with a sleepy child, everyone pays and it makes for a very long day.
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ame s 3-12-2009 @ 11:51AM
I've had a structured bedtime routine for my daughters since they were infants. It really helped during the toddler and pre-school days.
They are in 3rd & 5th grades now. Like me, it takes them a while to wind down in the evening. I don't let them play video games after 6. I have them shower, brush their teeth & get into jammies by 7 & tuck them in at 8. They still like for my husband and I to read to them, then they listen to an audio book.
I would have lost my mind years ago if not for our routines.
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Karen Sams 3-13-2009 @ 10:15AM
I think it's really important to keep a consistent bedtime and implement a nightly routine. It doesn't need to be too involved. Our routine with our six month old is to put on pyjamas, put him in his sleepsack, read a couple of books and then give him his bottle. That's enough for him to get sleepy and know it's bedtime.
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Anne 3-23-2009 @ 5:21AM
Children should be regularly going to bed, like a habit, not to upset easily.
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