What age do you let your kids get up in the morning by themselves?

[Anonymous]

By about 3.5, if DD got up and asked for breakfast at some ungodly hour, we'd come get it for her but not stay up with her to eat. She'd eat on her own (at her little table, so no worries about safety), put her dishes by the sink, and then go play until we got up.

This is still how we do it at 5. If it's after about 6:45, we just get up with her and will eat with her and start our day, but if she get's up before 6:30, we just get her breakfast and go back to bed either to sleep or to read until we feel ready to be up.

We live in a small home that is all one level, so if there is a problem, we'd hear about it pretty much instantly. She's also just not a very high risk kids and asks permission before doing anything even remotely concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well before 5. At one point before DD could really operate the TV we just set it to Disney Junior before we went to bed so she could just turn it on and watch cartoons. She was never that hungry so we didn't set out a breakfast. We did have friends that set out bowls of cereal and room temperature Horizon milk boxes for breakfasts. You could set out granola bars or something. A 5 year old should can be pretty independent.

I used to pour the cereal the night before and cover it. I poured two cups of milk. One was for the cereal and the other was for drinking. My grandkids get up and have a yogurt pouch or yogurt shake.

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old gets up and gets dressed, occasionally makes her bed, and can go to the bathroom by herself and brush her teeth.

[Anonymous]

7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

[Anonymous]

When my older DD was somewhere between 4.5 and 5. We left some snacks out on the counter (like baggie of muffins, banana, granola bar). She would curl up on family room couch with her ipad and snack and watch pre-approved shows or play games/apps. We'd get up like 45 minutes later.

Now my DD is 9 and she and her little sister (age 3) do this together. Age 3 would have felt too young for me for my older DD, but with my 9 yr old there too, it's fine. (They actually love this time together.)

[Anonymous]

DD's gotten herself up around 5.5-6. I set up a lower cabinet with her breakfast options, she puts on the TV and has a good morning until i get up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3 year old gets up and gets dressed, occasionally makes her bed, and can go to the bathroom by herself and brush her teeth.

I don't have kids so I don't know what is "normal" but this is impressive! lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

Op here. Our school district starts at 7:45am so we are out of the house on weekdays by 7:30am anyway

[Anonymous]

Absolutely, it was before 5. When he could navigate the TV himself. They had to wait for the clock to turn green so they wouldn't get out of bed crazy early just for screens. But then yes, turn on the TV yourself, grab a banana or if I'm feeling extra nice a muffin and let mommy sleep!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

What’s the point of pushing bedtime back if kid still gets up at 5:30 anyway? OP didn’t say that early bedtime was an issue for them.

[Anonymous]

Whenever they stopped coming to our room in the morning and just figured out stuff for themselves - probably when they were 3 and 5. The catch was telling them not to wake each other up. They will often wait to eat until we’re up, but they can grab dry cereal or a piece of fruit if they need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

What’s the point of pushing bedtime back if kid still gets up at 5:30 anyway? OP didn’t say that early bedtime was an issue for them.

The point is the kid will likely adjust if OP gives it more than 2 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

What’s the point of pushing bedtime back if kid still gets up at 5:30 anyway? OP didn’t say that early bedtime was an issue for them.

The point is the kid will likely adjust if OP gives it more than 2 days.

Magyar it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely by 5. They grab a yogurt pouch and watch tv until others are up. They loved the independence!

This!

I put cheerios and other healthy easy breakfast foods in reach for her. I have a very low Ikea cabinet for bowls and cups for her to use herself. Food as a rule stays in the kitchen. She can see the TV from there. I'm normally downstairs by 6 or 630, but I let her do her thing on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7 is very very early. Why not push it back until 8 and she was adjust eventually. By 5 my kids could get up and play at 5:30 am.

My 7 yo has a 7pm bedtime. It's not too early. When my oldest was 10 I pushed the bedtime to 8, then at 12 we pushed it to 9. I'm in bed by 930, so we won't push it again until we go to "be responsible for your own sleep health" in highschool.