How much sleep do your young grandchildren get?

My son is a single father - he is up at 4-30am for work. Understandably, he falls asleep by about 8pm every night and his two children put themselves to bed. They have always done this, so their bedtimes have been "random" for years, since he got custody of them when they were 5 and 8.

I'm the "waker-upper" each morning, so I've always been aware of their sleep pattern. I can't say it has caused any problems , apart from the first few months when they both took advantage of the situation and stayed up all night a few times.

Since those early months', they have realised that they need to be in bed at a reasonable hour if they are going to function the next day. They tell me that they always get about 8 hours sleep and that is fine with me. They are 9 and 12 now and both have done very well at school, and socially, since being with their Dad. I think that things work themselves out with children, no matter what their sleep pattern.

None of my under 5 DGCs sleep for more than a couple of hours on the trot despite not having a daytime nap. My DGD who is 10 goes to bed at 9 but is rarely asleep before 11 and her twin (ASD) sleeps for about 6 hours a night without medication which he has only occasionally. They all seem very healthy and full of energy. You cannot force a child to sleep.

My grandchildren’s bedtimes seem very late to me. Girl of almost 6 goes at 8pm, 9 year old boy at 9 pm. That’s when the lights go out, I think. Reading, baths etc are before that. On schooldays they get up at 7, but the boy says he is often awake at 6.30, so I suppose he’s getting enough sleep.

My children were in bed by 7.30 at the latest when they were primary school age. I don’t think they often went to sleep then, but they were in bed. I needed the break, even if they didn’t.

My gc are in her and asleep by 8 pm on a schoolnight and are free to stay up later at weekends and school holidays but very rarely go past 8pm as they get so tired with all weekend extra activities and fresh air.

My grandson gets to sleep at 22:00, and I think it's really late. I think it's because his parents didn't take him to kindergarten, and now he wakes up only at 9:00.

My advice for you Applegran is that, having spoken on the subject, you should now NEVER mention it again unless asked.

I agree with espee. This is not a topic for you to get involved with.

Mine go to bed early and get up early, I think this is a good routine for later life. However, if they didn’t then it is none of my business. I would keep out of it and let them do their own style of parenting even if you don’t agree.

In the past bedtimes were earlier & set in stone . In modern times parents allow distractions such as tv & other screens to dictate to them & their offspring . My 4 always slept through & well back in the 90's . Today's methods simply irritate so I keep well out of it whether friends or family . If they wish their kids to 'rule the roost' I hope they find it pleasurable . It wouldn't do for me !

I wouldn`t have a clue what time my g/dhildren go to bed or how much sleep they have and tbh it`s none of my business,my parenting days are .

Don't they nap at nursery? I think all our various nurseries they had nap time if necessary. One of mine was ALWAYS asleep when I went to pick him up!