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Bedtime for small children

(33 Posts)
dorsetpennt Sat 25-Jan-14 13:02:53

If this topic has been discussed before I'm sorry but I didn't see it and I'm curious to know your views. My son works from home so he is the main carer for his 4 and half year old and 2 year old. In order to work, and to retain his sanity he sticks to a strict routine, very rarely does he or his wife change it. It works though. It's evening meal, bath and up to bed at 7pm, Mummy is home from work at approx.6.30pm, so she takes the girls up for stories and a few songs. She is usually downstairs by 7.30pm.
I ask this as there is a two and a half year old in the upstairs flat above mine, who seems to go to bed at all times. Last night she was still running around at 10.30pm. This is not unusual. Incidentally she is still up early, same time as my two GDs. So if the plan was to hope she would sleep later the plan isn't working.
Other grannies have said that their grandchildren appear to have no routine at all regarding eating times, bedtimes etc.
I always think children thrive on a routine, they know where they are and what is expected of them. My two little GDs are a testament to that.

rosesarered Sat 25-Jan-14 20:54:44

Sorry to hear that grandma60 we all know on here [most of us anyway] that our grown up children often don't act in a very grown up way, which leaves us as you say as piggy-in-the-middle or walking on eggshells around them all, it's very tiresome, and not what we expected in our so called golden years!However, your daughter has every right to do what she thinks is best for her own children.Your son and DIL will soon find this out.

grandma60 Sat 25-Jan-14 21:24:32

Thanks for your support Rosesarered. I'm sad that the whole family can't join in the anticipation of the twins birth . After they will be the DGC cousins. My son tried to speak to.my daughter after the weekend but she was so upset she would not answer the phone so he now refuses to speak to her.!When he rang to tell us that dIL was pregnant I asked him to ring his sister b ut he refused. She has not rung them to congratulate them on the pregnancy as she says she has not been told, although she did ask me to.offer them some baby things she no longer needs. If I try to talk to her about she becomes upset and my son just digs his heels in. Of course they went through a lot of stress with the IVF. (The firs t time failed). Sorry I have completly highjacked this thread Its just that I have never had to deal with anything like this before.;

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whenim64 Sat 25-Jan-14 22:08:25

grandma60 when one of my daughters was pregnant with her twins after IVF treatment, not only was she very poorly but her mood swings had us all running for cover. She used to leave letters and cards of apology for her partner to find when he got up early in the morning (she was absent from work due to illness and would stay in bed for another hour). I don't know how many times she took umbrage at imagined sleights and anticipation that she was going to be criticised, poor girl. I hope your family can put it behind you flowers

Sook Sat 25-Jan-14 22:37:58

I believe in a routine but with a little flexibility now and then. Sons were brought up this way and I'm happy that my DGC are too.

Mishap Sat 25-Jan-14 23:27:25

My DGC walked to the park on New Year's Eve at midnight in their pyjamas. They were entranced and will remember that forever.

They normally have a strict bedtime routine - but how excited they were by this mad treat!

Iam64 Sun 26-Jan-14 07:50:32

Mishap, that's it isn't it - good routines to make life easier and happier for all, but flexibility and occasional midnight pj treats.

grandma60 Sun 26-Jan-14 08:15:41

Thankyou everybody for your support and comments. Yes I do wish my daughter had been a little more flexible that weekend but she is a very good mum and really I feel I do feel it was her choice and I should support her in this. On the the other hand I don't think she appreciates the strain that her brother and his wife have been under with theI IV F and the pregnancy. Living so far away and not communicating means she hasn't seen it first hand. I hope that when the babies are born that may help heal this rift.