Bedtime routine for your 5 year old

[Anonymous]

7:00 - shower with my help every-other-day; on days she doesn't shower, she has extra time to play, color, look at a book, etc.

7:15 - pjs, brush teeth

7:20 - choose and read a book

7:40 - sit on the potty, choose which stuffy she wants to sleep with, pick out clothes for tomorrow

7:50 - turn the lights off and tell the story of her day (recap what she did, or, if we're in a hurry, just tell us her favorite thing)

8:00 - hugs and kisses and we leave the room

8:05 - she yells for one of us to come back in, because she forgot something or needs to be re-tucked-in. We do this quickly and leave again.

She usually falls asleep between 8:15-8:30. Wakes up the next morning anytime between 7-8, usually around 7:30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine if she’s not asleep maybe she’s not tired. You can give her a nightlight and a book and tell her to stay in her room. She can read or play on her bed or listen to music or listen to a story until she falls asleep and you can turn the light off later. You can’t force someone to sleep and it’s ok if you have a few bad mornings, her body will regulate itself over time.

+1 this is what we do and it’s made nighttime so much easier.

[Anonymous]

5pm dinner
5:30pm biking/scootering outside
6:30 bath
7 songs and game
7:45 reading
8:15 brush teeth / lights out
I stay in bed with our son until he falls asleep, usually around 8:45. We chat on and off with the lights off until he’s asleep. I treasure this time so much, he often tells me things he’s worried or scared about and we talk through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started letting our kids do what they wanted in their room at that age, after reading/goodnight kiss. Of course, within reason (no wild activity or games or anything) and with just a reading lamp. It took pressure off going to bed and now they pretty happily do it. It also got them reading pretty well by age 5 because they had a special privilege to “stay up late” reading (but it would actually calm them down and make them fall asleep by 830 or so).

We do this too. Bedtime routine has remained the same for the past couple of years now for our 6yo. When she was 5 and still in pre-school it was actually a little later routine as she was still napping some days in preschool. When she started K we started the routine earlier to accommodate her exhaustion after long days with no nap. After bath, brush teeth, pick out clothes for the next day, read book, she can tuck in or play for a few minutes. It's always her choice, and it's 50/50 on what she chooses. When she's allowed to play, I have a time limit on that, and many days she tells me she's ready to tuck in before her time limit is up. Some days she'll lie in bed and read or draw on her LCD tablet with her lantern.

I know you're worried about enough sleep, but I think at this age we took the lead from our child's body. As long as she doesn't seem overtired during the day, I don't worry about the number of hours she's actually getting. I have noticed that even though she doesn't always go to sleep right after the routine, starting the routine at the same time every day is the key. If I let us push the routine even 5 or 10 minutes, that is when we tend to have issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our routine involves a melatonin gummy. Magic.

Those can be dangerous for little kids and should be used sparingly.

OP why 730? Mine goes to bed at 8. Just a thought.

Checklists are always the answer. Maybe go on the computer, look up a template and make it together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This has all been really helpful. Thank you. She’s not napping any more. Never worn a pull up. I think the light has affected her (despite blackout curtains). And I know you’re right about if it’s my husband’s thing to let him handle, but I was so frustrated last night because it was like 8.45 and the shenanigans were still going on. This stuff doesn’t generally happen when I put her to sleep. I like the idea of letting her read in bed after we leave and talking to her about it more.

When something has worked for a long time then stops working, it’s hard for me to adjust (it’s always been that way for me as a parent since she was a baby. I’m not very flexible by nature and having to be more flexible has been one of my biggest lessons since becoming a parent!). My concern is whether she’s getting enough sleep but we can try pushing back a bit to see if that helps. Thanks again everyone.

OP you are the problem not her

Goo$ you recognize your inflexibility

No kid needs the exact amount of sleep every day

There is a likes light can buy it has green and red.
Green she can leave her room red she has to stay but she can read in bed.

My controlling sister used this for her did at this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly does your bedtime routine for your 5 year old look like? Ours is not working and I need help. Right now, I give a bath at 6.30, get out around 6.45. Books until 7.15. Then brush teeth and my husband is supposed to read one more book, rub back then leave the room. But that’s where it breaks down. Kid starts asking for more back rubs, gets in and out of bed. Husband gets frustrated and leaves to stand in the hallway until she gets back in bed. This cycle repeats. Now I’m frustrated with both of them. Kid isn’t asleep yet and instead of lights out at 7.30 it’s like 8.25 or 8.30 and kid still isn’t asleep yet. We need a new routine. Kid isn’t getting enough sleep. Parents are annoyed. It all sucks. What does your routine look like? HELP

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[Anonymous]

We have a standard bath, brush teeth, books in bed routing and close the door by 7:45ish. Our daughter just turned 6. Our rule is that she can stay up and play in her room if she's not tired, but she can't come back out unless it's an emergency. She does occasionally come out and ask us for something but we just escort her back to her room. Some days she's asleep by 7:45 and some days she's up until 8:30.