What Time Does Your Baby Go to Bed?

I completely agree with you! :) It stinks, but is really important unless it's a special occasion (in which case he'll probably be cranky through it, because he's tired). My 7mth old goes to sleep around 6:30.

My 2yo went to bed around 6pm between ages 4mths & 7/8mths, and it slowly moved back. Right now he still goes down around 7:30/8.

I wish mine slept that well or long. I mean really what is a few years anyways. By school time it is after 8 and all they wind down.
For the odd special event go with it and then when baby is a mess for 2 days he might really examine if it is worth it

You are absolutely right. Let me say first of all that I know I am no expert and I know different things work for different families, however...

Just because most kids can "get by" on less, doesn't mean they don't need more. My son actually went to bed at 6:30 as a baby, and took 2 long naps, sleeping 12 hours at night. We only moved him up to 7PM when he turned one and gradually moved to one nap. At 2, he still takes a 2.5-3.5 hour nap every single day when many of his friends the same age are refusing their naps. Obviously I've only had one kid to test my theory out on, but I think the more sleep they get, the better. I am sure there are some babies who really do need less sleep, but I think it's probably the very slim minority. If your boy is doing fine with 7 PM and still sleeping 12 hours plus two naps, I would say he needs it or he wouldn't be going along with it. My husband and I are kind of obsessed with our son getting enough sleep, so we're willing to for-go certain events. When we do keep him up for some reason, we never let it go past 8:30 at the latest and never repeat it more than once in a week. When it has been out of our control and he has been kept up multiple nights he has always suffered and taken a few days to mellow out and catch back up.

I would stick to what you're doing, it sounds like you're doing a great job!

I am a firm believer in early bedtimes and keeping babies/toddlers/kids to a routine, letting them stay up later on the odd occasion is ok but 99% of the time mine go to bed at their bedtime. I disagree with your husband on this , your baby is 8 months old and needs his sleep , 7pm is a good bedtime and the amount of sleep he is getting is good. My eldest is 7 and goes to bed at 8pm , the youngest (22 months) goes to bed at 6.45/7pm.

My 13 month old goes to bed at 7:30pm and has since 2 months old. My other friends that have babies that stay up later know what my routine is and respect it and we are all able to work something into the early afternoon/evening instead of late at night. There have been times I have kept her up later and that has always been a complete nightmare so if I can I dont keep her up later unless I absolutely have to. She also sleeps for 12 hours at night but is now at one nap for about 2.5-3 hours. She NEEDS her sleep or she is one cranky lil girl which is not fun for anyone :)
Hope this helps!!

Nope not at all. Ideal bedtime for babies around that age is actually anywhere from 6-8pm (depending on your baby). Every baby has his own rhythm so you want to put him to bed when he starts getting sleepy. If you don't and you keep him up, he'll become overwired and have a hard time sleeping as well. So don't keep him up! Social lives unfortunately suffer as parents. Thats just the way it is ;p

Oh, and my 10-month old goes to bed around 6-7pm (depending on the day).

Your baby's schedule sounds just right to me! Maybe you can have someone stay with him after he's asleep so you can get out once in a while at night.

No no no... your baby is fine.
BOTH my kids were like that too, as babies.
When you have a baby... you need to realize that it affects your life. Your Hubby cannot expect to go out until late and socialize. That is just the way it is. Unless you get a babysitter.

BOTH my kids, had a sleep and nap routine, and sleep times. THUS, we had no battles about bedtime.
My Husband, even told me once that he's glad I have a sleep/nap routine for our kids... because, it helps a great deal and HE certainly would not have the patience to endure a tired/fussy kid who didn't nap.
We just made our schedules according to our kids nap and sleep times. NO biggie.

That is life with a baby.
NOT all babies are portable... and can't be taken all over the place and get 10 minute naps here and there in the car or the stroller etc. MY kids... NEVER napped that way. Ever. Only at home, would they nap. I tried.

I think, your baby has a perfect schedule.
And... if you change it... just for your husband... you will have a fussy tired baby who CANNOT sleep anymore, nor well, nor soundly. THEN your Husband will really grumble... because putting a baby to sleep who has willy-nilly sleep habits is NOT fun.

OR, you have HUBBY take complete care of the baby... if you are both out one night... and let him see first hand, how it is... then when you come home at night, late, let HIM be the one to put the baby to sleep. And tell your Husband to do it by himself. It is not easy.
BUT... if you have a great nap/sleep routine for your baby now... AND if you keep it up... your baby will be a great napper/sleeper because it is a habit.

all the best,
Susan

Both my daughters 19 months and 6 months go to bed at 7-8 and wake up at 7-8 the next morning. My oldest has one nap for about an hour and half and my youngest takes 2 hour naps sometimes a little longer! Mine get grumpy if they dont have a lot of sleep! Their like their dad!

Bravo to you!

You are being completely sensitive to the sleep needs of your child and not compromising his health and well-being for your own social satisfaction.

I could not agree more with your line of thinking. Personally, I think you're doing the right thing.

When my first son was 8 months old, he went to bed at 6:30, slept 12 hours, and took 2 naps during the day. My second son is 4 months old and he's on the same schedule. BOTH of them are fantastic sleepers and are alert and happy when awake (i.e. not crabby and prone to tantrums due to being overtired).

Yes, it sometimes cuts your social opportunities short but if you think big picture this really is such a brief period of time. He won't go to bed this early forever, so just tell your husband to be patient and hang in there. Your child's well-being is more important than getting together with the crew. Besides, there's nothing wrong with occasionally hiring a babysitter or one of you 'going solo' to the social events.

Everybody's social life gets crippled when you have kids ! LOL I was never a big "schedule" person mainly because by the time I had the 3rd there was no way to keep a consistent schedule with having to get the other 2 to their different things every day. If my son was tired he slept wherever (carseat, stroller, floor). I would stick to the schedule that works for you when you can, but I wouldn't forgo social events that you want to attend just because you think your son needs to sleep in his bed at exactly 7:00. Get a babysitter on the nights that you and your husband want to go out late or plan to bring a stroller or some other option for your son to sleep in if he is going to be with you.

Good luck,
K.

keep up the good work, it's really important to keep the schedual the same. My little one will get super whinny if we go past 730. we do our best to be home in time to do our routine. your kids will grow up feelling very secure in their routine. If it's something really important that your hubby wants to stay out for drive seperate or get a sitter. There is no reason to keep him going for your benefit. gl

My boys go to bed at 8, and have since birth (now 4 and 6), but if we are out on the occasional night we will let them stay up later. It will not hurt him to go to bed later a couple times a month so mommy and daddy can visit with friends.

My son goes to sleep much later than most kids and always has. But usually I am the one that people are telling me I'm doing something wrong. Most kids I know go to bed early. It sounds like your son has the perfect sleep routine for him. If he is sleeping well and getting the proper amount of hours, then it is right. My son is just a couple hours later than most other people's kids, but yours sounds like most other babies I know and totally normal to me.

If hubby wants to go out, why not switch off and have a guys' night out and a girls' night out occasionally? Or get a babysitter. Unfortunately social lives suffer when you have a baby, not much you can do about that.

A.-
You are not wrong at all. I had/have a kid that needs a ton of sleep and yes, it does affect your social life some. Follow your son's lead on this. My pediatrician said that many children are not getting enough sleep because of our busy lifestyles. He also told me that children grow only while they are sleeping. At two years old, my son was sleeping 14 hours a day. 12 hours at night and a 2 hour nap. At 11 he still sleeps 10-11 hours a night. He was adopted at 2 so I can't give you information from when he was a baby.

If your son transports and sleeps well in transit and in unfamiliar environments, why not take him with you and put him down at a friend's house or you can be the host and put him down at home, during your event.

S.

My daughter went down at 7:00pm, woke up at 6:00am, nursed and went back to sleep for an hour and woke at 7:00am bright eyed and in a great mood. She also took two naps until age 2 and then gave up her naps completely at 3 or so. My son went down at 9:00pm and woke up a few times during the night. Each child is different and you really need to listen to them. I think you're doing great!!

my kids go to bed around 8:30 but when were babys they went at 7:45 or 8 pm

My 8 month old goes to bed at 7pm 97% of the time. The other 3% is when he will take a later nap and go down between 7-8. I never tried to establish a set bedtime with him - he chose this bedtime from early on. If I tried to keep him up, he would just be cranky! He is up 1-3x a night (sometimes to nurse, sometimes for a binky, sometimes to play!) and wakes up for the day between 6-7..

With my daughter, she was home with my husband during the day (he worked nights) so I purposely let her nap late and then go to bed around 10-11ish. That way she would sleep in for him the next morning. But once she started going to daycare, I knew she needed more sleep so we moved her bedtime up. She is 2.5 and goes to bed at 8 and is up between 6-7.

I probably have a different take on this than most moms, but here is my 2 cents. I was a baby wearing mom. I never thought about bed times or anything. My babies went with me everywhere at all times of the day or night. They fell asleep when they were tired (usually aroud 8 pm or so) and napped when they wanted. When they started sleeping on thier own, they did so with no problem. Now that they are school age, the go to bed at 8 pm and we never struggle. They did not (and still do not) need quiet to sleep and they are very happy and well adjusted children. We went out to eat with friends, went to weddings and even movies when they were babies and they slept through most of it. Relax. Have fun.

My kiddo goes to bed around 9...thats after a year of adjusting from going to bed at 10. Stick with your guns. I WISH my kid went to bed early.

You cant take it back!!! She is three now. Hasnt napped since two....it has really hampered my days. What I wouldnt give to do it all over!!!

I have other factors that include themselves in the equation...but, simply, if I had done it from the start, I would not be in the boat I am now. What I wouldnt give to do it all over!!!! :)

Your social life will ALWAYS be crippled somewhat by a child. Its easier to get a babysitter to "watch" a sleeping baby at 9 than an awake child that has to be put to bed at 10.

Girl, mark my words!!!!
Good Luck!!!

I think you should stick with what is working for your family. Mine has gone to bed at 8:30 from about 6 months to now (11 mo). We have tried earlier, but it does not work. Every baby is unique, and if you have found the time/routine that works for yours, that's great! Yeah, it's hard on the social life, but that's life with kids. It won't always be this way, so try to enjoy the life you have, not miss the life you used to have. Can you do fun things with friends on the weekends instead?