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Teenagers

Reasonable bedtimes

6 replies

haggardpete · 29/08/2010 09:33

Our teenage daughter - now 16 has been going to bed later and later on non-school nights. The trend started a few years ago when she was going to bed around 1Am. But its gotten to 7 AM now, this morning I passed her going to bed at 7:45 when I was getting up. I emphasise she doesnt go out - just sits and watches TV as far as I know and on school nights she is generally lights out by 1 Am or so.

My wife has always maintained 'this is normal' and 'all her friends are doing it' but I am sure this in nonsense, and I am really worried about the effect on our our younger daughter who is now old enough to be affected by this. What are your feelings?

OP posts:
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mummytime · 29/08/2010 09:55

Its not normal, she may have a sleep problem. I would suggest taking her to the GP for help. Also let her learn about good sleep hygiene, so winding down, no TV or computer in bed room etc.

Good luck!

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marriednotdead · 29/08/2010 10:08

Not at all normal.
11pm on a school night, a couple of hours later on a weekend.
What is she actually doing all night? Surely her concentration/energy levels at school must be affected.

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dingdongmrs · 29/08/2010 10:11

no way is that normal, i would say 10pm at the latest on a school night and 11pm on a weekend. you may thingk 16 is grown up but its not, they need sleep. the average amount someone that age needs is between 9 and 11 hours!!

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Manda25 · 29/08/2010 10:12

I think it is normalish. My son has been doing this since i stopped telling him when to go to bed (When he left school) ...as long as he could get up for college - i left him to it (which he always did).

On a resent family holiday he was going to bed at 12ish up at 8am - so i know he can do it !!....if they have nothing better to do they will stay up half the night and sleep all day ! .... There is only a few years that they will be able to do this before responsibilities come along.. let her get on with it.

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Tortington · 29/08/2010 10:18

we have started turning the internet off when we go to bed for this very reason. dd was up til 4am the other night ( aged 17) and its just not good for her to have her pattern turned upside down.

so i told her she could sleep or read a book Grin

i think 1am is late enough.

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mumeeee · 29/08/2010 23:34

It's not normal to be going to bed at 7am. But it is normal for teenagers and even 20 year olds to go to bed at 3 or 4am and then get up aroud 2pm the next day.

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