Bedtime and Sleep

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Infants & Toddlers Preschool Age Children School Age Children Sleep

Bedtime Basics

Sleep is more important than you may think. The average kid has a busy day – playing, school, sports and activities, and doing homework. By the end of the day, your child’s body needs a break. Your child’s brain and body are growing while they sleep.

Establishing healthy sleep habits

From infants and toddlers to school-aged kids and teens, parents want to know how many hours of sleep are recommended. While it’s true that sleep needs vary from one person to another, there are some very reasonable, science-based guidelines to help you determine whether your child is getting the sleep they need to grow, learn, and play.

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Sleep Basics

Bedtime Routines

Establish a consistent bedtime routine that encourages good sleep habits. These tips can help your child ease into a good night’s sleep, no matter the age:

Set the stage for sleep

A bedtime routine usually consists of three or four activities, like taking a bath, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and reading a book. These should always be done in the same order.

child hand touching adult hand with hearts

Leave when your child is awake

You should leave the room while your child is sleepy but not asleep yet. This way they learn to fall asleep on their own, and they won’t panic if they wake up in the middle of the night and find you gone.

Go to bed at the same time

Set a consistent bedtime that leaves enough time for your child to sleep the recommended amount of hours for their age. Start your bedtime routine 30 to 60 minutes before "lights out" time.

Sleep Facts

Infant Sleep

Infants aren’t good sleepers–and we shouldn’t expect them to be. Babies’ brains are growing and developing significantly in the first year and many infants do not have regular sleep cycles until about 6 months of age. As babies get older, they need less sleep and sleep becomes more predictable.

The most important thing with infants is to offer enough sleep based upon their awake windows and place your baby safely on their back and in a crib.

Sleep Facts

Toddlers and Two’s

From ages one to three, most toddlers sleep about 11–14 hours over a 24-hour period. Expect your toddler to drop down to one nap a day by 18 months, typically resulting in a slightly early bedtime.

Separation anxiety, or FOMO (fear of missing out!), can motivate toddlers to stay awake. With their newfound independence, your child may start to resist sleep and having a consistent bedtime routine can really help!

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Featured Resource

Sleep Transitions

Transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed can come with its own set of challenges. Use this resource as a tool to help guide this process and make the transition as smooth as possible.

Preschooler-Aged Children

Between the ages of three and five, children sleep about 10–13 hours a night. Children who get enough rest at night may no longer need a daytime nap. Instead, they may benefit from some quiet time in the afternoon, like looking at books in their bed.

As kids give up their naps, they may go to bed at night earlier than they did as toddlers.

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Sleep Facts

School-Aged Children

School-age kids need 9–12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime problems can start at this age for a variety of reasons, including screen time before bed. Sleep-deprived children can become hyper or irritable, and may have a hard time paying attention in school.

It’s still important to have a consistent bedtime, especially on school nights. Leave enough technology-free time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights-out.

Learn More

Ben-Joseph, Elana Pearl, ed. “All about Sleep (for Parents) – Nemours Kidshealth.” KidsHealth. The Nemours Foundation, June 2019. Accessed August 8, 2021.

Pacheco, Danielle. “Perfecting Your Child’s Bedtime Routine.” Sleep Foundation, June 24, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2021.

Bedtime Basics

Establishing healthy sleep habits

Bedtime Routines

Set the stage for sleep

Leave when your child is awake

Go to bed at the same time

Infant Sleep

Toddlers and Two’s

Sleep Transitions

Preschooler-Aged Children

School-Aged Children

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