Comments | tooby3: Failed sleep experiment

tooby3

Failed sleep experiment

May 31, 2012 23:09

A things worked out tonight, we got dinner together and eaten really early. So by the time I had both boys bathed, dressed and we all took a walk around the neighborhood, it was still only 7:30. Cal seemed pretty tired and napped poorly today (did two one hour naps, never did a good long one) so I decided I'd try and get him to bed earlier ( Read more... )

Comments 6

sandokai June 1 2012, 10:37:38 UTC

That happens here a lot... he gets tired around 7:30 but you'll rock/nurse/hold him until 8:30 or later....unless he's having a particularly tired day.

I'm skeptical about the books. I've neer noticed that naps or earlier bedtimes beget better nightsleep. The only thing that seems to make a difference at all is the kid getting older and the kid eating more.

tooby3 June 1 2012, 13:55:36 UTC

Seriously. But there are always these people (usually those that have naturally good sleepers) that use one of those books and parade it around like the bible.

I just do NOT get this obsession with that 7:30 p.m. 'magical bedtime' at ALL. I think it's just made up based on a typical 9-5 workday where the mom is home and wanting to hang out with her husband/wife after dinner. It's, to me, just another one of these ways we want to will babies to be convenient.

When babies gradually move from napping every three hours to two naps and longer nighttime sleep, their natural bedtime is kind of obvious to me. and it may or may not be MUCH later than that.

OK I'm done : )

turtleohs June 1 2012, 15:32:55 UTC

My kids are both getting cranky around 6 and in bed by 6:30 or 7 at the latest. Efren always used to go to bed at 8 w/o fail but since he cut out his nap we moved it back. It works for us...but I know its not for everyone.

tooby3 June 1 2012, 15:39:21 UTC

Well see I even see your situation as evidence that there is no one set bedtime - your kids go to bed naturally a little earlier than 7:30.. my kids go to bed naturally a little later. Bottom line, they're not robots. You can't program them all to go to sleep at the exact same time because the experts say so.

turtleohs June 1 2012, 17:24:31 UTC

I wonder if there is any correlation to when the parents naturally go to bed? I am early to bed usually, like rarely past 9:30 or 10.

Hell most people are just sitting down to dinner by the time my kids are starting bath/bedtime.

tooby3 June 1 2012, 17:58:04 UTC

I totally think there is. The other thing is if both parents work, that whole 7-ish bedtime is REALLY hard. I mean you would never see your kids. I don't even get home until 6 p.m.

My "theory" is the whole concept comes from a man married to a stay at home mom. I mean think about it? Mom gets dinner on the table for everyone by 6 p.m. right when hubby is walking in the door. Then dad gets to 'unwind' while mom puts the kids to bed after dinner and Dad get wifey all to himself without ever having to deal with his children.

Not that it's not possible for the woman to enjoy that scenario, but it only really works well with one specific dynamic in the home and a kid that fits right into it.