https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:17:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2619537 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 08:25:09 +0000 NurseDMB 2619537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually 2 hours or so. Both my kids (3 years old and 10 months old) are in bed by 7ish, then by the time I shower and finish cleaning up its 8:00 and then I can relax. DH works until 8/830 three nights a week, but on the nights he's come earlier we have more down time since we're both doing the baths, clean up after dinner, etc.</p> <p>I definitely need that wind down time at the end of the day. My 3 year old doesn't nap anymore and by the end of the day I'm totally drained. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2619285 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 10:28:22 +0000 FaithFertility 2619285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few hours DD is in bed by 8:00-8:10 we go to bed at 10.... lately I fall asleep by 9.....preggo problems! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2619257 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 09:05:16 +0000 Silva 2619257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much right now with a newborn. Occasionally I get him to sleep in the evening somewhere that isn't touching me, but not regularly yet.<br /> Before he was born I had 3 hours, occasionally more, because my 3 year old is in bed by 7 (6:30 a couple times a week when she is particularly tired).<br /> I'm a big believer in early bedtime so as soon as my sons sleep is more predictable I'm hoping to get it back (although I will need to go to bed earlier as long as he's waking up) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2619234 Sat, 10 Sep 2016 07:59:26 +0000 petitenoisette 2619234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is in bed and I'm back downstairs by 6:30 most nights, sometimes closer to 6! It's pretty crazy how early she goes to bed but we have to get her up by 6 during the week so it works. So that means we have 2.5-3 hours before we go to bed. Now that school has started (teacher) we try to get going to bed at 9. During the summer I'd go to bed around 10:30 so that was a lot of free time! </p> <p>My husband doesn't realize how lucky we are to get so much free time! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2619089 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 20:15:26 +0000 LemonJack 2619089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends. During the school year (I'm a teacher) I am often so exhausted that I get into bed right after I put DD down (so, like 8). I'll read in bed awhile though!</p> <p>During the summer I will stay up a couple of hours and watch tv or sew. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618914 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:55:26 +0000 sslm 2618914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A decent amount. The baby is now going to bed sometime between 7-7:30, and bedtime for my 3 yo starts at 7:30 and my husband does it. So after the baby is asleep I am basically freeeeeeee!!! That's about 3 hours. It's awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618884 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:45:51 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2618884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2ish hours. Both go down around 8 and I go to bed around 10. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618870 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:16:06 +0000 brownepiano 2618870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids are in bed between 6:30 and 7 so usually 2 hours or a bit more. We don't stay up late though. And soon I'm going to be working right after bedtime so I'll only have about 30 min on most nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618862 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:02:20 +0000 ineebee 2618862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About two hours! LO is in his crib by 7:45ish. Half an hour of that is cleaning up, though. :P But still, when I'm doing it without having to divide my attention, it's still *somewhat* restful. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618848 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:36:32 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2618848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: This is my life. I have a late bedtimer and I'm an early bedtimer so by the time my kid is asleep, I have maybe 15 minutes before I'm asleep too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618841 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:34:40 +0000 birdofafeather 2618841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: in bed by 7!!!!!!!! that's incredible. 🙌🏼</p> <p>i get probably 2 hours on average. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618694 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 10:57:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2618694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends how long it takes her to fall asleep, but I'm usually out by 8:30 the latest. We take half an hour to split a couple of chores cleaning up, then we usually just veg together on the couch watching TV, playing on our phones, talking, etc and we go to bed at 10. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618690 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 10:53:34 +0000 pregnantbee 2618690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>0 now with a still unpredictable newborn. I was getting 1.5-2 hrs with the 4 yo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618675 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 10:11:12 +0000 Anagram 2618675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: Sometimes I go to the bath and take a book/my phone with me and just sit for an hour when the kids are asleep and I need true alone time, or if DH is watching something I don't care about. Because he can still hear if the girls wake up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618608 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:27:25 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2618608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty much none. The baby had started waking at night so I need to go to bed earlier and DD1 doesn't fall asleep until 9:30/10.<br /> I really need to crank back her bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618606 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:26:36 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2618606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually have 30 minutes to an hour with DH and then 30 minutes to an hour completely alone. I've started to really depend on being completely alone and I'm working on being less grouchy when DH stays up later or we end up having to take care of household matters together that eat up that time. Which has basically been every night this week....I'm struggling a bit this week lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618594 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:13:59 +0000 Anagram 2618594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The girls go down at 7:30-8:00, so I usually have 2.5 hours or so. Of course, a good chunk of that time is spent pumping and preparing their lunches for the next day, but I still get probably an hour.</p> <p>Can't wait till pumping is done and I have that free time back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618591 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:12:45 +0000 looch 2618591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends. I need more sleep than I do alone time, so some nights I put myself to bed at 8, which is about a half hour after my son is in bed. Other nights, I am awake until about 9:30. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618577 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:02:45 +0000 cascademom 2618577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An hour or so. LO #1 loves to stall bedtime. By that time, it's 9:30pm. LO #2 goes to bed at 7pm most nights. On one night a week, we do our Stranger Things watch, so I stay up late on that night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618570 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:56:20 +0000 edelweiss 2618570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO2 goes to bed around 7.30, but LO1 goes to bed around 9pm because they still do naps at daycare. So I get about 1 hour before needing to head to bed myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618569 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:54:22 +0000 arosebyany 2618569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also get nothing, DS goes to bed between 8 and 9 (we co-bed) and I just go to bed with him, usually DH too. DH gets up at 4 for work, and DS still wakes up some nights a lot. So even though he's in bed at 8 and doesn't get up till 7, my Fitbit says I sometimes still get less than 8 hours of sleep :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618566 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:49:01 +0000 Andrea 2618566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put the kids in bed by 7 pm and sleep between 10 and 11 pm so I get a good amount of time every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618551 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:28:21 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2618551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing!<br /> He won't go to bed until late now, like 9:30. And that's pretty much my bedtime.<br /> If we try to put him to bed at 8 as was his bedtime, he'll just be up out of bed for hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618539 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:09:24 +0000 Ajsmommy 2618539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It used to be much more.. but now DD's bedtime is pushed back to 8-830ish, so I'm not back downstairs sometimes until almost 9. I usually go to bed by 930... so yeah... I get about 30 mins sometimes more like an hour tops, depending on how easily DD does her bedtime routine (brushing teeth, potty, books) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618525 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 05:35:04 +0000 SweetiePie 2618525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is in bed by 7/7:30 each night and I go to bed between 11 and 12. I should go to bed a lot sooner, but it's because of that alone time that I push it and stay awake! Im usually wrapped up in whatever I'm doing.<br /> ETA: I should add that usually that first hour after he's in bed I'm doing housework (kitchen, cleaning up toys, tidying my own room) and often another hour of some special project (wrapping gifts being the most recent example, or putting together shelves for his closet). So I still get maybe 2-2.5 hours on average, but up to 4/4.5 hours if I'm lazy or it was a trying day and I just don't have energy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618512 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 02:53:44 +0000 lamariniere 2618512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are in bed by 7:30/8:00 and I go to bed between 10:30 and 11:30. My husband usually stays up a little later than I do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618301 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:20:41 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2618301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is in bed by 730 most nights (asleep is another story) but he's happy by himself so we do bedtime, turn off the lights, close the door and he's on his own! We eat after he goes to bed usually and then hang out til maybe 930/10. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618293 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:09:45 +0000 nana87 2618293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to but not anymore! Lo used to go to sleep by 7:30 and it was so nice to spend a couple hours vegging out with dh before bed, but now she's usually up until at least 9! She still gets enough sleep, and I do prefer later wake ups to 5am for sure, but it means I either don't get much time at all to wind down, or I end up staying up too late </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-do-you-get-to-yourself-after-the-kids-go-to-bed#post-2618253 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 18:23:45 +0000 Bao 2618253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being a parent, I know how important it is to get alone time after the kids are in bed. It's really what keeps me sane throughout the day, knowing once I get my girls down I can spend at least an hour doing what I want to do. Reading, coloring or watching a show. Of course DH and I hang out sometimes too, but if he's busy with work it's nice to just enjoy the time alone. So I aim for at least an hour, but usually get 2 or so hours every evening. </p>