This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Why I put my kids to bed at 7:00 … it is a hot topic, that’s for sure! When our children were younger, we had all of our kids in bed around 7:00 every night. They were asleep around 7:30 every night.
UPDATE: This post was written several years ago in 2014, when our kids were much younger, but I believe that it is important. We still maintain a regular bedtime, but they no longer go to bed as early as they once did.
I owe so many well-rested nights and happy children during the day to the fact that we have a regular and early bedtime for our children. In fact, many Dutch parents put their kids to bed between 6:00 & 7:00 for very similar reasons that we have an early bedtime.
Before I begin- remember that although this works for us, it is not for everyone. As with all of my advice, do what works best for your family. ♥
Our kids (ages 2-9) are in bed by 7:00
Yes, our young children are in bed at 7:00. It is 2014, and my children range from 2 years old to 9 years old. Our 9 year old now goes to bed at 8:00, because he is older and needs less sleep. Until they are 9 years old, 7:00 remains their bedtime.
Last week, a fellow blogger shared my post about what to do when your 2 year old is still waking at night. In the post I talked about our early bedtime and gave some life-changing advice for our toddler that was waking up. That post led someone to leave the comment “Who puts their kid to bed at 7:00 pm?”
WE DO.
Yes, We have received mixed feedback about this, but it works for us. I know that 7:00 is early. I know that it cuts into their day, but I can tell you that I would rather have happy kids for 12 hours a day than tired or grumpy kids for 13 hours a day. (Our older kids wake up at 7:00 no matter what time they go to sleep. Really!)
Playing hard in the day makes kids tired by bedtime!
Our four YOUNG kids play hard during the day. They run around a lot and they spend a lot of time outside with us.
They are busy in the day, so they are tired when 7:00 rolls around.
They DO NOT nap anymore and they are just plain worn out by the evening, even if they don’t want to admit it (and they never do! haha!)
We have tried to push this back when we are on vacation, but they just aren’t as relaxed and easy-going the next day. They are a little more on edge, just like we are (as adults) when we don’t get the rest that we need. I put them to bed early because I want them to be smiling & ready to take on the day. 🙂
Plus- the are usually asleep in 5-15 minutes, so I know they are tired.
Do they ever stay up late?
YES! Once a month they each stay up late for Their Special Night. Plus, every night, our oldest son gets to have Read-Alone time in his room before bed, too. Or they can read their spelling words while they fall asleep with this little hack.
If that have football or wrestling, they are up even later, but we AIM for an early bedtime! Our younger children have a really hard time waking up for school at 7:00 am when he doesn’t get his full 12 hours of sleep, so I do try to get him to bed as early as possible.
I want him to be able to focus at school, be energetic in play and at his sports and be happy at home! This little chart can help you to know how much sleep they truly need…
Kidshealth.org says:
“Most kids between 5 and 12 get about 9.5 hours a night, but experts agree that most need more. When your body doesn’t have enough hours to rest, you may feel tired or cranky, or you may be unable to think clearly. You might have a hard time following directions, or you might have an argument with a friend over something really silly. A school assignment that’s normally easy may feel impossible, or you may feel clumsy playing your favorite sport or instrument.
Sleep Impacts Growth & Health
One more reason to get enough sleep: If you don’t, you may not grow as well. That’s right, researchers believe too little sleep can affect growth and your immune system — which keeps you from getting sick.” All in all- sleep is important! Your kids need it, even if they don’t WANT it.”
Do you have time with them in the evening?
I am not saying that this is right for everyone, so please hear me out. My husband and I both work from home, so this works for us. Two of our kids stay home with us during the day, and our older children go to school until 3:30. We have plenty of family time daily from 3:30 until bedtime.
Before my husband worked from home, I used to have the kids showered and in their pajamas before he got home, to give us more time together. Remember that it is quality over quantity.
Does it happen every night?
7:00 bedtime does not happen every single night, but it’s our goal every night. Most nights, one of our kids will be at practice until 8:00, so of course bedtime is later on that night.
Sometimes, it’s even earlier than 7:00. A few years ago, when my youngest kids were 3 & 5, they would fall asleep in the car at 6:00 on our way to drop the older kids off at practice… and I just take them up to bed and they slept ALL NIGHT LONG. They never woke up during the transition to bed. I know it’s crazy, but when I try to wake them, they are NOT happy, so on those nights, I just let it go.
It’s good for your marriage:
My husband and I see each other all day long while we work from home or while we are spending time with the kids, but at night we have time to watch a show, play a board game, etc…
Now, I am not saying that this is why we put them to bed early or that it is why we started, because it’s not, but we do enjoy that time together. Did you know that the #1 fear of preteens and teenagers is divorce among their parents? Quality time together, with your spouse, reduces this risk greatly.Make it a point to tell your children that you are going to spend time with your spouse.
Children Need Sleep
Remember- our bedtime certainly isn’t for everyone, but it works for us. It is healthy for our kids to get that amount of sleep and it helps them overall. Quality sleep + healthy foods make a huge difference for children (and adults).
On the other hand…
I wanted to share a story, for those of you that have a late bedtime. My very dear, long-time friend, Julia, has always had a late bedtime and her children follow her lead. They stay up well past 10:00 and it works for them. They sleep in every morning and they are happy, healthy, smart children. Her children are the same ages as mine. I know that I need to wait until 11:00 or later to talk to her on the phone. 🙂
All of that to say that this is what works for us, but it is up to you to find out what works best for your family.
I hope this helped to shed a little light on families with early bedtimes. Sleep well… no matter the time!♥
If you could please message me on facebook or even email me at my gmail account and let me know how in the world you get yyour six year old to sleep for 12 hours. i have a 2 year old a 3 year old and a 5 year old and my 5 year old and 3 year old go to sleep at 8 with my 2 year old going to bed at 730. my five year old gets up at five in the morning and wakes her sister up since they are in the same room and then them playing or watching tv wakes up my 2year old. whats your advice
Read my post about how I teach my kids to sleep in later. 🙂 https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/kids-waking-up-too-early/ It should help.
My email is yourmodernfamily@gmail.com – message me anytime. 🙂 Or on FB.
My kids are 3 and 1 and they are in bed by 7:00pm and up at 7:00am. I get a lot of flack from this from other moms, even though my kids are so little. However, I’ve noticed that my kids are not as cranky as the other little ones in our play group. Most moms in our group put their kids to bed between 9 and 10 pm and expect them to be up at 7am and not be grouchy. However, I know it works for our kids and so I keep doing what I’m doing.
🙂 I get a lot of flack, too (hence the post) 😉 LOL!! It works for our family, though.
My hubby is still in school (online only) so even if my kids were in bed early I wouldn’t see him 😀
My kids usually go to bed between 8-9. My son is in daycare and doesn’t get home until almost 7, so he’s always had a late bedtime so that I could see him. When I was still working I wouldn’t get home until after 8 or 9 so there were days when I never saw my son awake.
Now when my kids were wee babies they were breastfed and I could usually get a 6 hour stretch out of them so their bedtime was midnight. They’d usually nurse around 9 and sleep to 12 and then they’d nurse again and I could get 6 hours sleep 🙂 by moving their bedtime to late at night I basically made their middle of the night feed 6am.
Mine, too- when we were little, I would do whatever it took to get that six-hour stretch! 🙂
My 11yr and 5yr girls share a room and go to bed at 7pm during the week. My 9yo son also goes to bed at 7pm and can read for 30 minutes in bed. The girls can’t read in bed, for the 5yo needs her sleep.
On weekends my 11yo may stay up until 8:30.
The kids are used to this routine and rarely complain about bedtimes.
Sometimes the 11 yr girl says, friends are allowed to stay up later. We explain that her sister needs the 7pm bedtime, and that she can stay up on weekends. then she ‘s agree with our reasoning.
my girls were in bed and asleep by 7. I would start their bedtime routine at 6 with baths, bedtime stories and prayers. I would tuck them in and then go have my shower and settle in for an evening of crafts etc. They always woke up between 5:30 and 6;00 no matter what time I put them to bed so if they went to bed late it would make for a cranky morning. They both also napped until they were in school. My girls even now like to take a nap when they are not working and they are 23 and 21
Great post!! My daughter (2 y/o) goes to bed about 7 pm as well! She has stopped takings naps at all so we let her just go go go, unless she is extremely cranky, then a nap is necessary. But for the most part she is always a cheerful, energetic little one who is READY to go to bed at 7. Also, as a single, solo parent, it just works for us.
So true!! We were SUPER flexible with my first daughter’s schedule when she was a baby. Now that she is 3 and we have a 1 year-old also, this has drastically changed! Once she cut out naps around her third birthday, she was giving us clues that she was short on sleep. When your normally sweet little girl drastically changes into a constant, crying mess…it’s pretty obvious what is missing!
There are so many new, great articles out there on how children need more sleep. I’m happy that this is getting more “press”. Wonderful addition!!
Thank you so much! I needed this alot! We are & have been with our 6yr old to get her to bed by 8 but I agree I can see 6 or 7 because she is still hard to get up in the morning & many have said “Are you crazy for wanting her to bed so early” I am so glad it is not just me but now I will be putting this in play! Thanks again!
My 1 year old only requires 8-10 hours of sleep total each day, so to me this is kind of humorous/impossible. It would be nice to have that much free time, but on the plus side, I do get to spend more time with her.
Yep- we all have to just do what works for us. 🙂
We have a 27 – month old and his bedtime is more like 9pm. I have tried many times to put him to bed earlier but then he won’t fall asleep. He wants you to pad his behind (thanks daycare for introducing that to them) and he will get upset when you leave the room. I would be happy to have him fall asleep earlier but I also think that kids have different natural sleep times.
haha- we had one of those- our first son wanted his little bum patted and I would stand there doing that for like an hour. I learned my lesson the hard way! haha!!
I agree that it is important to stand your ground. We are on more of a big city schedule here and my son (2.5) sleeps from about 10:30 pm-9:30 am (with a few wake-ups). It’s different from how I was raised, but that is the lifestyle here. However, if we had to get up earlier in the morning we would have to do something about the bedtime. I totally agree that kids don’t get enough sleep these days.
🙂
I have loved reading your post and the many positive replies from other mums! I have two little girls aged 5 and 4 so very close in age and very active. From birth we have given them an ‘early’ bedtime routine of usually no later than 6pm as we have found it works for all of us. The funny thing is now they are used to getting good sleeps that when we do have a later night out or something, they usually fall asleep or ask for their beds! Every parents dream, plus my husband and I have enjoyed our ‘us’ time once they are tucked up which is great and really keeps you going. We are changing the time soon to 7pm now one is in school and the other soon to be and I can’t imagine it getting later than that until they are perhaps in high school as I’m pretty sure these were the sort of times I went to bed each night as a child so perhaps because I think it’s the norm that’s why I instill it I don’t know? I’m just happy knowing they get a good sleep and are healthier and happier in the daytime because of it.
I know- I was happy with all of the comments, too (well most of them!) and surprised!
Our kids are the same way- they just expect to go to bed early and they are used to it, so it is really nice that their bodies naturally understand that. Good point!
I so agree with you on making sure kids get enough sleep! My sons were so cranky if they didn’t follow a routine that provided plenty of sleep — they couldn’t even stand to be with themselves. Total meltdown. They both stopped taking naps at age two on their own so putting them to bed at 7 or 7:30 was born out of desperation. It worked great!!!!! They were very active guys and on the go all the time so they slept soundly until 7 in the morning. Daddy and mommy had time to finish the chores and b.r.e.a.t.h.e. Win, win.
Agreed!! win-win! 🙂
Thanks for this. We also put our son to bed at 7pm. There are special occasions when he stays up later but we try not to miss the mark too often. We have read that its better for them and it works for us!
I have three daughters, 9,8 and 6 years old. Their bedtime is also 7pm. I have had people question me as well. They get up between 6 and 7am for school and TRUST ME….with three girls (who are getting older) getting ready in one bathroom in the morning it may not be very peaceful! I am a stay at home mom so I try to have my chores don before they get home and dinner on the table when they get home. We themn sit down and eat, get homework done, and then onto their chores. (Typical take care of clothes, make bed and pick up room, then they alternate a chore throughout the week.) There is a big difference if they dont get to sleep by 7:30 the next day. They are more whiney and wanting to argue more with each other. If they tend to have a bad day, which we all do, when we discuss how they are feelingit boils down to them being tired and they tend to solve the problem and say that they would like to go to bed earlier. So they go to bed at 6:30 that night and there is a BIG change the next day than the previous!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has had the problem of dealing with criticism from others about putting the kids to bed early! Thank you for this post it is very true! Have a blessed day!
haha!! We are the same way and we get questioned constantly, too. 🙂