A busy mum-of-three has shared why her little ones don't have a set bedtime, admitting they usually drift off to the land of nod anywhere between 9pm and 1am.
As a self-professed "night owl" herself, Nic Bescoby says that "removing the control and force" from her kids' sleep schedule really works for her family - but she doesn't judge others who have set rules.
While Nic admits that 7pm bedtimes were "much easier" initially, she was inspired by other families who "lived with autonomy" and decided to focus on her children's "natural circadian rhythms" instead.
The mum, who also home-schools her kids, argues that her philosophy is pretty simple – "we sleep when we are tired … I love the freedom this gives us!"
"I know so many families who thrive best with more structure. That is simply not the case for me … My kids go to bed late. They wake up late. And that's OK. I'm a night owl, too!" Nic told Kidspot last year.
The blogger mum from Rochdale, Manchester, who studied childcare at college, swears by allowing her three kids to make their own decisions – across both study and sleep.
Nic says: "Children are often far more capable than we give them credit for and can be very good at recognising what they need."
Despite raving about her kids' bedtime freedom, the mum admits that the new lack of routine did come with some serious challenges.
Her son decided the no bedtime rule meant he "never had to sleep at all" but now he's "flourished" and lives by his own body clock, playing in his room until he's ready for sleep.
On her daughters, the mum added: "I sit with my girls while they go to sleep, I sing songs, play podcasts and read books until they drift off. It's a beautiful time of cosiness and peace and love".
Thanks to the laid-back approach, 'bedtime' for Nic's kids can range from anything between 9pm and 1am, but this doesn't phase her.
The only "limit" the blogger has for her kids is on screen time, as she explains: "We found they couldn't focus on their body's messages when they were busy on the screens.
"Now they turn off screens when they're getting tired and then play or read until they're ready to go to sleep."
She loves her evening routine with her kids and says the hours they spend after their hectic days drawing, playing, watching movies or reading as their "special time".
Nic has also previously revealed how she loves to "unschool" her children, ditching traditional parenting and encouraging her kids to learn only what they want to, rather than following a set curriculum.
She said: "There is no schoolwork - it's mostly discussion. Children are naturally curious. They will ask questions, and we will offer them an answer, or research it together using the internet or books."
"“I respect them as people and as equals. I guide them and teach them - but we are still equals."
