Hi
A group of parents were chatting while waiting for our kids to finish their swimming lessons and we got on the subject of bedtime routines. Not bath, PJ's, teeth, story & bed but how you say goodnight. Now most of us chatting said we still take our kids to their bed and have hug and goodnight story or prayer (if thats what you do) Our kids are 8-9 and one of the moms was really surprised and said since her kid was 6 they get themselves ready for bed then come to find the parents (wherever they are in the house and say goodnight and go to bed themselves and thats it) Which is fine if thats what you do and the kid is fine with it. She kind of looked down her nose at us as if we were spoiling our kids and not letting them grow up. If I had the time I would have given her the full rundown of my dd and my routine just for fun. She gets herself ready for bed, teeth, toilet etc then we have a story then I take her to her bed where we have a BIG hug (huggy wuggy) and a kiss (kissie wissie) - I am laughing as I type this lol, then I give her a zoober (u know like blowing a raspberry on her neck) then she gives me one, then she doesn't let go of my neck so I have to tickle her to make her stop, we say goodnight then we say "I love you", "no, I love you more" = repeating all the while I am walking out her room and all the way down the hall!! :-) We have done this since she was 2 and its so funny and I will do it for as long as my dd wants to. Do any of you have a silly bedtime routine? If you have a lot of kids maybe its harder to do and you have to stick to a routine but if you do the silly stuff let me know.
We say I love you all the way up to the sky, down to the ground and this wide-complete with hand motions. My girls are 9, 8, 5, and 4. They are the first to do it every time. :)
MY son turns six soon and he still blows out the lights (even though he's definitely on to the gag). And the bedtime song has changed. It used to be Skimmerinky dinky dink (The Elephant Song) and then he informed me last year that he was "too old" for that "baby" song. So it rotates between I wish I were (a bar of soap, glob of mud, fishy in the sea, etc.) and "On Top of Spaghetti". "Good night sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite. See you in the morning light. Good night, good night, good night!." I don't care how old you are routines are helpful. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting in all the cuddles and snuggles you can. And it's NEVER a bad idea to go to sleep with a smile on your face!
Oh, gosh, reading all the replies makes me long for the days my 13 year old son could ride on my back!! He's now taller than me! Oh, I loved it when he was young and we sat together at bedtime in a big recliner in his room to read a book/books and then sang several songs. I loved that time soo much!
Don't tell any of his friends but sometimes he will ask me to tuck him in! I have such good memories! Please savor these young years with your kids!
I LOVE bedtime routines special one on one time with my youngest! I dont remember when I stopped reading to my older kids but maybe 8 or 9. If your friends stopped reading to their kids at age 6 I would "look down my nose at them" Its a great way to improve their vocabulary and comprehension as well as a nice time together for kids who get busier and busier as they grow. My six year old and I read then we lay down together to "talk about" We may talk about words in Spanish, math stories, but usually what we did today or what we'll do tomorrow. If I am unavailable my husband does it but I love it. Him being my last I will try to keep it up forever......Wish me luck on that
My husband carries our little 2.5 year old up the stairs to bed most nights, and he gives her options on how she gets carried - sackapatatoes being her current favorite. That's over the shoulder (like a sack of potatoes). Sometimes it's piggy back, or like a baby, or like a football, or a fireman carry. She loves getting to pick!
We do the typical bedtime of potty, pjs, story, and goodnight...and big big hugs and kisses.
Gosh, that sounds sad for those kids who tuck themselves in!
We send our kids (twins, 9) to get ready on their own, then we both tuck them in, sit & talk for a few minutes, hug & kiss, & end with "Night, night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite! If they do, take a shoe, & whack 'em black & blue!" (alternating verses between the kids & us - my husband made up that last part). And still end with an extra kiss & hug or 2.
Your daughter has love & comfort before she goes to bed, & she will remember that when she is tucking in her own babies at night! Do it for as long as possible, because when she's 13, 14, 15, it's unlikely - but you are reinforcing your bond with that extra touch of love at night. :)
It is going to break my heart when the time comes that my girls don't want the bedtime routine....and that's the only way it's going to end!
My five year old and I have a special "kiss" that only we do. It started out as rubbing our noses together, but at age 2 she turned it to rub forehead, rub nose, then kiss. I have been telling her, "I love you to the moon and back" for as long as I can remember. But somewhere along the way it turned into, "yeah well I love you to mars and back," "I love you to Jupiter and back," etc etc.
My two year old gets her story time every night too and I can't wait to see what special treasures we will make of her time as she grows!
My 6 year old son still enjoys riding to bed on my back like a horse. Only instead of the bedtime horse... I'm the bed time COW!! (his idea) I've been the bedtime cow for a few years and he still really enjoys it. I guess I never thought about when I'd stop being the bedtime cow, but I'll keep doing it as long as he wants me to... unless of course he's 17 and wanting bedtime cow!!! haha!
fun post :-)
My kids are 11, 9, and 5. I read them bedtime stories every night. I told my 11 year old you are way too old for this. He tells me he will always be my baby (coming from a very athletic and outgoing child who during the day doesn't interact much with me because he is always out hanging with his friends). As long as he wants me there, I will be there =) Hugs, kisses, and books.
This isn't cutesie or funny, but I am just reminded that it doesn't have to be all fun and games to go to sleep with a smile on your face =) I hope my kids will always want me to snuggle.
Mine are 5yrs and 2yrs. The oldest from day one has to have me sing a lullabye i made up, after pulling the musical bear's tail, and a snuggle. The other one has to be rocked and you cant sing or talk to her.
Aw... I've carried on the tradition that my mother used to put me to bed with. The kids (9 and 10) get ready, say good night to their father and I tuck them in with: I say, "good night", they say, "sleep tight" I say, "don't let the bed bugs bite." and they say, "that's right." Then they get a kiss an "I love you" and lights off.
