https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:55:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1716228 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 11:33:26 +0000 birdofafeather 1716228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: i know it's really hard if DD doesn't have the option to sleep later. she doesn't always if she's out later, but because i WAH, she doesn't have to be up at a certain time. i would do what @littleveesmommy: mentioned and bring pjs and bedtime routine stuff to do a mini routine. i've done that when driving at night and she usually passes out in the car within a couple minutes where if i leave her in her clothes, she might not sleep for a 2 hour ride home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1715843 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 09:25:41 +0000 littleveesmommy 1715843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were very strict with DD's 8pm bedtime for a while but started to be more flexible around 20 months - we missed being out and sometimes family festivities ran a little late. Now we probably push past her bedtime about once a week and she's been doing ok. I do notice that she wakes up at the same time or even earlier on nights we put her down late, so it definitely affects her sleep. She usually starts melting down about an hour after her bedtime if she doesn't get to at least wind down in the car seat on the way home. If we do stay out late, I try to bring her PJ's and change her in the car before we drive home so we can just stick her right into bed. That little extra step has saved a second meltdown at home trying to get her ready for bed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1715789 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 09:01:41 +0000 LuLu Mom 1715789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us at 20 months, meltdown usually happens around 9 pm and it's not worth pushing it. She will fall asleep in a stroller though so usually if we are somewhere that I can lay her down and walk her around she will pass out and be down for the count. This worked for a wedding reception last month and we were able to stay until 11 when she keep trying to roll over to her tummy ;) I'm hoping this works for the 4th so we can watch fireworks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1715529 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 06:01:07 +0000 looch 1715529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted so badly to be flexible with sleep, but the only thing that is for sure with my son is that if he does not stick to his schedule, we will not have a good night ahead of us.</p> <p>In a perfect world (where we didn't have to get him up in the morning) I would be fine letting him stay up later, because he could sleep in a bit. Right now, it's just not possible with our schedules! That's where we struggle, so if someone knows how to get around this, please share! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1715480 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:18:22 +0000 birdofafeather 1715480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we've always been pretty flexible with sleep, but more regular as she got older and STTN. but if we know we're going to be out later, we'll try to push her nap a little later as well. we also bring our carrier and throw her in that if it's going to be very late (like after 9) because she'll sleep in that and it buys us a lot more time!</p> <p>tonight she was actually out later than usual (dinner at 8 when bedtime is at 7:30) but she rolled with it and we didn't stress too much. if she lost it, we would have left! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714978 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:54:38 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1714978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DD, it was around 20 months that we were able to be more flexible with bedtimes without risking crap sleep. DS has always been pretty flexible. It was just their different personalities! Some kids handle it better than others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714892 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 12:44:31 +0000 lemondrop 1714892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always been flexible, so stretching times has seldom been an issue. When I know we have plans that evening, I'll let him sleep in as long as he wants (usually I get him up by 8), put him down for his nap later, and not wake up up from his nap. That usually will get us to 9pm or a little later before he's ready for bed. We will also change him into pj's in the car so he's ready to go straight to bed from the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714851 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 12:09:22 +0000 winniebee 1714851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As he got closer to 2 (maybe 21 months) he beco more flexible with night sleep. He doesn't really sleep in but usually will take a longer nap or go to bed early the next night. His bed time is 8/830 and he has done ok up til 930. We don't make a habit of it but it's fine for things like vacation or special events. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714845 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 12:02:40 +0000 Grace 1714845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just came back from a vacation where we screwed with bedtimes a lot. It seemed like if LO was well rested, putting her to bed late was not a problem. If she wasn't (we did two days of late bedtimes in a row) and there was major melting down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714833 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:56:05 +0000 googly-eyes 1714833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO started getting better at this as she got closer to the 18 month mark. Sorry that doesn't help you, but make sure you at least try it very so often or you might miss it getting better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714825 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:49:09 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1714825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 14 months we started being more flexible with her schedule. She's always had a "bed time," but she now does really well with adjustments. If she goes to bed late and still wakes up early, she will either take a longer nap or just go to bed early the next day. If she misses sleep somewhere, she will make up for it in a way.</p> <p>We felt like we kind of missed out on a lot with having her on a such a strict schedule in the beginning, so we made sure to be incredibly flexible with DD2 and she will literally sleep anywhere. So we will probably be able to stay out as late as 9:30 this summer. PARTY ANIMALS! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714820 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:44:19 +0000 Lindsay05 1714820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always risked the crap sleep and wake ups! I think as LO gets older she is better able to adjust to it. She may be a little more tired the next day but she can always nap or go to bed earlier the next night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714817 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:42:25 +0000 erwoo 1714817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where we live now kids sleep late! We usually aren't so strict about bed time over the weekend but during the week they are in bed by 9pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714815 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:41:16 +0000 mediagirl 1714815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty sure we are going to be house-bound after 7pm until she's 10. We are pretty regimented with our schedule and it works for us so we don't mess with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714811 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:39:09 +0000 JerricaBenton 1714811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're definitely not regimented about schedules but LO gets crazy cranky if we have her out more than a half an hour after her usual bedtime. She's only 16 months but I'm not sure I see it changing because she definitely lets us know when she's ready to go! You'll only know if you try though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714752 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:35:22 +0000 Ra 1714752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B is much more flexible with his schedule if we are out and about than he is when we are at home. If we are out and he is having fun he can easily stay up until 10-11 at night. Whereas, at home, he will start to get fussy around his normal bed time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714731 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:08:48 +0000 DillonLion 1714731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Guess we'll give it a shot. We aren't obsessively regimented, I just try to make sure she gets rest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714727 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:05:03 +0000 yellowbird 1714727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are very flexible on the weekends. We travel quite a bit and she doesn't go down til 9-10 when her normal bedtime is 7:30. She usually sleeps til 8 no matter what.</p> <p>eta: lo is almost 22 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714711 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:47:07 +0000 mrsjazz 1714711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LO is 2 and we've always kept a flexible schedule. We try not to keep her out too much past her bedtime, but she deals with it very well. It just can't be two or three nights in a row and it is best Friday and Saturdays when she can sleep in if she wants to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714705 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:42:29 +0000 Bao 1714705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are very flexible as long as it's not an every night thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714704 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:40:47 +0000 MrsRcCar 1714704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are extremely flexible about sleep. N will melt down around 10:30 sometimes later. We usually put him down around 9 on a good day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714693 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:28:49 +0000 autumnlove 1714693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always been flexible and we don't get cranky meltdowns until after 9 or 10.</p> <p>However, her 5:30 Wednesday gymnastics class is too late for LO...I think she is too tired after preschool! I need to switch to a weekend morning class! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714682 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 09:15:46 +0000 MamaMoose 1714682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it just depends on the kid and how regimented you've kept them in the past. We've always been flexible with M's schedule so if we have a later night than usually she tends to handle it ok. One of my cousins was always strict with schedules and now even at six years old her daughter is a hot mess if they stay out past bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/keeping-toddler-out-after-bed-time#post-1714666 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 08:53:59 +0000 DillonLion 1714666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's lots of fun summer activities going on in our town but they all go on after LOs bed time. </p> <p>If we don't put her down at exactly her preferred bed time, she sleeps like crap and wakes up early.</p> <p>When did your LO get a little more flexible in this department! I'm sick of our days being over at 8pm every day lol. </p>