Timing is Everything
First things first: kids need a lot of sleep! When you start your bedtime routine, it depends on your child’s age, whether they take naps, and when they get up in the morning.
The younger your child is, the more sleep they need. Here’s a rough guide for how much sleep children need at different ages (this includes naps):
- 1-2 years old: 11-14 hours every day
- 3-5 years old: 10-13 hours every day
- 6-13 years old: 9-11 hours every day
Remember, if your young child stops taking naps, they may need extra time added into their nightly sleep.
So if your 4-year-old needs to be awake at 7 am, they need to be asleep by about 8 pm. If your bedtime routine takes about 30 minutes, then make sure it’s started by 7:30 pm.