Hellobee Boards Topic: If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:48:21 +0000 keiki_mama on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791128 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:47:07 +0000 keiki_mama 791128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No judgement--some times you gotta do what you have to do! banana on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791123 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:19 +0000 banana 791123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to judge but not anymore. A lot of my friends put their kids to bed pretty late. They actually think WE'RE the crazy ones for putting our kids to bed so early and I know that we get judged for that, even though they don't say it to our faces. I'm sure I do things as a parent that can be "judged" upon. Nobody's perfect so I try to just let it go. The only times I'll judge another parent is if it's blatantly wrong, like feeding a 9 month old diet coke (yup, I've seen that happen several times). rachiecakes on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791095 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:39:20 +0000 rachiecakes 791095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Arden: never crossed my mind either MrsSCB on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791053 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:29:02 +0000 MrsSCB 791053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't judge based on time because I don't know what the circumstances are or what their kids' habits are. I did, however, see two kids who looked about four and eight in a really violent rated-R movie this past weekend and I was judging that... Mrs.Someone on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791050 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:28:14 +0000 Mrs.Someone 791050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I applaud them for having kids on their schedule instead of the other way around. When we were in Europe we saw parents with kids out at midnight and later. Most were asleep while the parents were enjoying themselves. But I don't have any yet, so what do I know? :) swurlygurl on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-791038 Fri, 17 May 2013 11:25:00 +0000 swurlygurl 791038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sometimes, but I try not to because I know some circumstances just make that their norm. My sister works 2-10 pm, so their days are very adjusted. They don't go to bed til 1-2 am, but don't wake up til 11/12ish daniellemybelle on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790930 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:57:30 +0000 daniellemybelle 790930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I actually judge more when they are school-aged kids out very late (after 10pm) than little ones. I always think, there's no way your kid is going to be able to pay attention and learn in school tomorrow if they don't a good night's rest! Modern Daisy on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790922 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:55:15 +0000 Modern Daisy 790922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not if the kids are behaving. But when I have an 8:30pm dinner reservation at a nice restaurant and a family with young kids is sitting nearby and the kids are acting up I get really judgy and annoyed. 2PeasinaPod on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790829 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:29:50 +0000 2PeasinaPod 790829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Arden: I'm with you...there could be a multitude of reasons why they have their kids out that late. Whatever schedule works for them...LO used to not go to sleep until midnight early on. We just couldn't get the days and nights the right way. We have him on more of a schedule now, but he still doesn't go to bed until 8:30/9:00 most nights. So while someone's bedtime might be 6:30 and that works for them, there's no way DS would sleep through the night if he went down that early. I'm all for doing whatever works. ShootingStar on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790785 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:19:33 +0000 ShootingStar 790785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I kind of judge sometimes if we're out for a late dinner on a Friday night (like 9, 10:00) and I see people with toddler/preschooler. The people I REALLY judge are our next door neighbors. They let their six year old run around screaming at all hours of the night. They've been doing this for the entire 3 years we've lived next to them. We'll hear a ton of thumping (running up and down the stairs) and screams and laughter. We live in a townhouse so some noise is expected, but their stairs are on the complete other side of their house from us. And the only thing I've ever heard from people on the opposite side from them is the occasionally vacuuming sound for 30 seconds or so during the day. And they have a one year old, which I never heard crying once. ETA: I know in their culture that early bedtimes are not the norm, so that's mostly why I judge, because I figure they haven't bothered to put him to bed yet. SAHM0811 on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790701 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:42 +0000 SAHM0811 790701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nah, especially if the kids probably aren't in school. The only reason I started being strict about bedtime was because of school. Other than that, if she were just at home with the nanny, she slept fine as a young toddler from 10p-10a. We slept in (like, really slept in!) on the weekends as new parents too! mrsjazz on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790680 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:58:07 +0000 mrsjazz 790680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't. You never know where people are coming from or going to. LO normally goes to bed at 8, she used to go to bed at 11. Most of the time when I see kids out late, it's if I'm on the train. When we've taken LO to holiday get togethers they usually run late and we take the subway home. I don't see the big deal. Sometimes you miss bedtime. MsLipGloss on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790650 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:50:55 +0000 MsLipGloss 790650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yeah, I do . . . not necessarily for grocery store/drug store outings, but at restaurants and movies? Yep. Alivoo01 on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790611 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:43:28 +0000 Alivoo01 790611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope because none of our friend's with kids go to bed earlier than like 9, 10+pm!! I thought that was late, but apparently it's "the norm". haha! I do judge a lil when I see middle school/young high school kids out and about late at night/early in the morning (2-3am). I'm thinking, do your parents know you're out?? mrs. wagon on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents/page/2#post-790513 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:26:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 790513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ never judged before kids! I didn't know kids went to bed so early until I had kids of my own. now that I have kids I'm always like "go to bed!" when I see a kid my kids' ages out and about past 9pm. But that's only because I know if my kids were out and about at that time of night, I'd have to pay with a night full of crying wakings! My kids both have early bedtimes (between 6-7pm), always have, and I fiercely protect them! Momma needs her sleep at night. I don't SERIOUSLY judge. (I really don't do that after having kids.) I just kind of joke in my own head. Usually the kids I see out are being really well behaved and normal, and you can tell that it's their normal routine to be up at that time (they are grocery shopping at whole foods, etc). We live a few blocks from a fantastic outdoor mall so I see families out there at night all the time. Ok, if the kids are obviously overtired and screaming and crying, then I do judge. But the kids I see are usually just fine. Grace on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-790185 Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:09 +0000 Grace 790185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nah. I know quite a few small kids who go to bed at 9-10 PM (especially when they have a parent at home, so they can sleep in). I get judgey when I see 7-10 yo out playing past 9 on a school night though... edelweiss on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-790037 Fri, 17 May 2013 07:03:21 +0000 edelweiss 790037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i'm usually jealous, like "why is their kid not melting down?" "how do they have the freedom to do that?" honeybear on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789980 Fri, 17 May 2013 06:36:23 +0000 honeybear 789980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pre-child, sure, I'd judge. Babies and kids were supposed to be in bed by like 7, right? :) But now--heck no! I've got a night owl on my hands and we never sleep-trained, so LO (now 2.5) has only been asleep by 8 a handful of times. Ever. We often eat dinner around 7-8. His typical bedtime is between 9-9:30, but he's flexible. He gets plenty of sleep and is totally healthy. It just depends on the family. GrapeCrush on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789972 Fri, 17 May 2013 06:34:19 +0000 GrapeCrush 789972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ depends on where they are. dinner/grocery shopping probably not. playing on the street at 9pm without a parent....yeah looch on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789961 Fri, 17 May 2013 06:25:58 +0000 looch 789961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am not usually out and about after 7 pm, and if I am, it is not at restaurants and grocery stores anyway! But, I do admit, I do judge, even though my rational mind knows all kinds of reasons exist...maybe I am jealous that their kids are so flexible, when mine isn't. mamimami on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789953 Fri, 17 May 2013 05:59:40 +0000 mamimami 789953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not at all. We do it at times! I guess i don't understand people whose whole lives revolve around their kids' schedules. I mean, aren't exceptions ok once in awhile? That seems like a tough way to live! Arden on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789944 Fri, 17 May 2013 05:40:10 +0000 Arden 789944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It had never occurred to me before this thread that people might be judging me when they see me at the grocery store or a restaurant with LO at 9-10PM. Oh well. Arden on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789942 Fri, 17 May 2013 05:35:28 +0000 Arden 789942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No not at all. There are so many reasons for kids to be out that late, like: - It's an emergency run for diapers, toilet paper, medicine, etc. - They are traveling and still in another time zone - The family has an uncommon schedule and the child's normal bedtime isn't until very late anyway. Like maybe a parent works late so they adjust their schedule so that the kids can see them at night. Our baby doesn't have a set bedtime, but we normally start the bedtime routine around 10-11PM. It works for us, and her. We're night owls - I'd much rather have her up with us at night than have her up early in the morning when I'm not a happy camper. I'm a better Mommy at 10PM than at 6AM - so why not have her asleep when I'm grumpy? :P SugarplumsMom on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789927 Fri, 17 May 2013 05:15:15 +0000 SugarplumsMom 789927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to. But after DD's sometimes crazy schedule, I don't anymore. Plus it's sunny until 10:30pm here during summer! blackbird on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789911 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:44:26 +0000 blackbird 789911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Only if they are acting out and being crazy! Andrea on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789910 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:43:17 +0000 Andrea 789910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It depends on what they are doing. Maybe they are out for a walk bc the kids would not sleep. But if they are in a loud restaurant with a bar scene, then I do wonder what they are doing there. SweetMamaM on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789906 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:27:40 +0000 SweetMamaM 789906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not on a regular basis, but I do judge parents who taking their children to really late showings of scary movies. I know that they might have some decent reasons but the kids get terrified and/or run riot, and movies are so expensive here I feel really gutted when it disturbs the viewing experience. MamaJ on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789871 Fri, 17 May 2013 01:59:21 +0000 MamaJ 789871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to before I had a kid. But my LO is a night owl. Mostly because I don't get home until 9 pm some nights so he goes to bed around 10. On nights I'm home we will keep him out late if we do dinner. But hardly ever passed 9 because he gets cranky. loveisstrange on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789868 Fri, 17 May 2013 01:49:33 +0000 loveisstrange 789868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yeah, I have to admit that I do. After about 9pm, I kind of think kids should be home. Im really strict about sleep schedules and bedtimes in our house. runsyellowlites on "If you see young kids out at night do you judge their parents?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-see-young-kids-out-at-night-do-you-judge-their-parents#post-789841 Fri, 17 May 2013 00:22:19 +0000 runsyellowlites 789841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Out to dinner, no... Grocery shopping, yes. DH doesn't get off till 7 so if we go out to eat then we will likely be out till 9... Both kids are straight to bed when we get home though. Even if we aren't out of the house it's likely for the kids to be up that late just because our pushed back schedules. (I was actually a schedule nazi when G was little & he had a 7:30 bedtime until DH's schedule change) When I see people at the grocery store with their kids (clearly grocery shopping) OR young school aged kids playing outside at that time, yup I totally judge.