The Complete Guide to Finding Your Child's Ideal Bedtime (By Age)

What time should your 2-year-old really go to bed? Why does your teen need 9+ hours but won’t get it? This guide answers your biggest bedtime questions with specific recommendations for ages 0-18, real parent experiences, and strategies that work in the real world—not just in parenting books. Learn how to find your child’s perfect bedtime. Included in this post is a range for the ideal bedtime by age from baby to toddler to teenager.

Are you struggling to find the perfect bedtime for your child? You’re not alone. Establishing the right bedtime is one of the most powerful tools parents have for ensuring their child gets quality sleep, which directly impacts behavior, development, and overall family harmony.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover science-backed bedtime recommendations for every age group from newborn to teen, plus proven strategies to make bedtime consistent even when life gets chaotic.

Having a consistent bedtime is one of the most crucial steps to getting your baby sleeping through the night and on a solid sleep schedule for naps.

Read all about the Importance of a Consistent Bedtime here.

As you set your bedtime, you will probably wonder what time is the best time for your child to have bedtime.

Why Bedtime Matters More Than You Think

A consistent bedtime is vital to your child’s daily routine and night sleep.

The Science Behind Consistent Bedtimes

Research shows that children with consistent bedtimes experience:

Better cognitive function – Irregular bedtimes are associated with lower scores in reading, math, and spatial awareness
Improved behavior – Studies link consistent sleep schedules to fewer behavioral problems and better emotional regulation
Healthier development – The body’s circadian rhythm thrives on predictability, supporting hormone regulation and immune function
Enhanced learning – Quality sleep consolidates memories and strengthens neural connections formed during the day

Real-World Benefits You’ll Notice

Beyond the science, parents report that consistent bedtimes lead to:

Smoother bedtime routines with less resistance
Happier, more cooperative children throughout the day
Predictable evening time for parents to recharge
Better ability to maintain family schedules and commitments
Reduced morning struggles when children are well-rested
Better night sleep with the baby or chils sleeping through the night

The bottom line: Bedtime isn’t just about when your child goes to sleep—it’s about establishing a foundation for healthy development and family well-being.

Defining “Consistent”

Many parents mistakenly believe “consistent bedtime” means putting their child to bed at exactly 7:30 PM every single night. This unrealistic standard sets families up for failure and unnecessary stress.

Instead, aim for a 30-minute window within which bedtime occurs most nights.

To have a consistent bedtime, you want your bedtime to be at the same time each night within a 30 minute window. So if bedtime is 7:30, your 30 minute window could be 7:00-7:30, 7-15-7:45, 7:25-7:55, etc. Pick one 30 minute window you will operate in.

Examples of effective bedtime windows:

7:00-7:30 PM
7:15-7:45 PM
7:30-8:00 PM
8:00-8:30 PM

How to choose your window: Pick the earliest time in your window as your “target” bedtime and use the additional 30 minutes as buffer time for life’s inevitable variability.

Consistency vs. Rigidity

It’s important to distinguish between healthy consistency and harmful rigidity:

Healthy consistency:

Most nights fall within your chosen 30-minute window
Bedtime routines remain similar even when timing varies slightly
Occasional late nights for special events don’t derail the overall pattern
The focus is on establishing a reliable rhythm, not perfection

Unhealthy rigidity:

Creating anxiety around exact timing
Missing important moments for the sake of a schedule
Failing to adapt when children’s needs genuinely change

How To Be Consistent With Bedtime

Bedtime happens at the end of the day. You are probably wondering how on earth you can be consistent with bedtime when it is the last event of the day. Bedtime can naturally vary quite a lot if your daily schedule is not the same from day to day.

Start With Morning Wake Time

Here is the secret. Bedtime consistency starts in the morning.

This brings up the importance of a consistent start time to each day. You need to start your schedule at the same time each morning if you want to increase your chances of ending at the same time each day.

If your child wakes at 6:30 AM some days and 8:00 AM other days, achieving a consistent bedtime becomes nearly impossible. The solution is establishing a consistent morning wake time first.

So start this process with a consistent morning wake up time. You want it to be within a 30 minute window, just like bedtime.

Steps to establish morning consistency:

Choose your wake time window – Pick a 30-minute range (e.g., 7:00-7:30 AM)
Wake your child at the same time daily – Yes, even on weekends (at least initially)
Expose them to bright light immediately – Open curtains or go outside to reset their circadian rhythm
Keep this consistent for 2-3 weeks – It takes time for the body to adjust

Create a Consistent Daytime Schedule

The second step is to work to be consistent in your days. I have a post to help you accomplish this in Getting a Consistent Schedule.

As you go through your day, if your child wakes early from one nap, let your baby sleep longer for another nap to get back on track. If you get a little behind schedule, move something up in the day to get back on schedule. You have an entire day to work toward getting back on track for that consistent bedtime.

With a consistent wake time established, build a predictable daytime rhythm:

For babies and toddlers:

Feed times occur at similar intervals
Naps happen around the same times each day
Wake windows (time between naps) remain relatively consistent

For older children:

Meal times are relatively predictable
After-school routines follow a similar pattern
Homework and free time have designated slots

Read My Books for More Help

Overcoming the Mental Load of Motherhood

Chronicles of a Babywise Mom Book of Logs

Do Not Fear Disruptions

With all of this talk about consistency, I don’t want to send you into a panic every time there is a disruption or change in your daily routine. You want most days to be consistent, but it is okay to have some off days. It is okay to have an early bedtime for whatever reason every once in a while. It is okay if you put your little one down for bedtime late one day because you were out and about.

It is okay to have disruptions to your typical schedule.

Build Flexibility Into Your Day

Life happens. Naps run short, appointments run late, and unexpected events occur. The key is having strategies to get back on track:

If a nap is short:

Allow baby to sleep longer at the next nap
Move up the next feeding slightly
Adjust bedtime earlier if needed

If you’re running behind:

Streamline or skip optional activities
Shorten (but don’t eliminate) bedtime routine
Prioritize core sleep routine elements

Recovery strategies:

Think of your daily schedule as a guideline, not a prison. Let Your Schedule Serve You
Make micro-adjustments throughout the day to land near your bedtime window
Remember: One off day doesn’t ruin months of consistency

>>>Read: Strategies for Making Bedtime Smoother

Ideal Bedtimes by Age Group

As much as schedules change over the years, it is interesting to me that one thing that changes very little is bedtime. Here are some ideal bedtimes by age.

Newborn Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:00 PM
Total night sleep: 12+ hours (with feedings)
Calculation method: 12 hours before the desired morning wake time

Newborns sleep more than any other age range (yes, even teenagers! haha). Your newborn should have bedtime 12 hours before your ideal morning wakeup time. So if you want to start your day at 7 AM, bedtime needs to be at 7 PM.

Some sleepier newborns might even have bedtime a little more than 12 hours before bedtime.

Newborns eat a lot and will eat at least two times between bedtime and morning wakeup time, but still treat that 12 time before your start of day as bedtime. Establish your bedtime routine. Set it apart from the rest of the day.

Key considerations:

Treat bedtime differently than naps, even though baby will wake to eat
Establish a simple bedtime routine (diaper change, feeding, swaddle, darkness)
Keep nighttime feedings quiet and low-stimulation
Bright lights and activity during daytime, dim and calm at night

Example schedule:

Wake time: 7:00 AM
Bedtime: 7:00 PM
Night feedings: 10:00 PM, 1:00 AM, 4:00 AM (timing and frequency varies)

Common newborn bedtime challenges:

“My newborn fights bedtime and cries for an hour”

Solution: Watch for sleepy cues earlier. Newborns have very short wake windows (45-90 minutes). You may be missing the sleep window. Also, consider witching hour.

“Should I keep my newborn up later so they sleep longer in the morning?”

Solution: No. This almost always backfires with newborns, leading to overtiredness and more night waking. Earlier bedtime = better sleep.

>>>Read: Sleep Routine Ideas to Get Your Baby Sleeping Well

Baby Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:00 PM.
Total nighttime sleep: 10-12 hours
Calculation method: 10-12 hours before the desired morning wake time

I always like to aim for bedtime being in the 7 PM hour. You might have reasons to have a later bedtime, and that is perfectly fine as long as your baby can handle it.

Bedtime for your baby ages 4-12 months old should be 10-12 hours before your morning wakeup time. Until your little one is sleeping through the night, stick with aiming for 12 hours. If that doesn’t work, slowly shift it until you find the ideal bedtime. As your baby gets older, you will find the ideal bedtime for your little one.

Some babies might even sleep 12.5-13 hours at night.

Bedtime can often shift as naps are dropped. This might be a permanent shift or a shift that is temporary until your little one can either handle less daytime sleep or can shift sleep to naps.

So if bedtime is 7:30 when baby has four naps, you might need to move bedtime to 7:00 when baby moves to three naps a day. After baby has adjusted, you might be able to move back to a 7:30 bedtime.

As naps are dropped, I always caution parents to think of a nap as rearranging total sleep time in a 24 hour period rather than dropping sleep time. Sometimes that might be as simple as baby doesn’t wake up for a night feed anymore so 30 minutes of sleep is added in during night sleep and can be shifted from a nap.

Developmental sleep changes during this period:

This age range brings significant sleep transitions:

4 months: Sleep regression as sleep cycles mature
6-8 months: Most babies can sleep through the night without feeding
8-10 months: Separation anxiety can temporarily affect sleep

Adjusting bedtime during nap transitions:

When babies drop from 3 naps to 2, or from 2 naps to 1, temporary bedtime adjustments help prevent overtiredness:

During the transition:

Move bedtime 15-30 minutes earlier
Watch for sleepy cues
Be flexible day-to-day based on nap quality

After the transition (2-3 weeks):

Gradually shift bedtime back to your target window
Baby’s body has adjusted to new nap schedule
Increased nighttime sleep may compensate for lost nap time

Poll Results for Baby Bedtime

In a poll taken on this blog, parents reported the following for their baby’s bedtime.

6:00-7:00 PM: 27 votes (11%)
7:00-7:30 PM: 52 votes (21%)
7:30-8:00 PM: 54 votes (22%)
8:00-8:30 PM: 60 votes (24%)
8:30-9:00 PM: 28 votes (11%)
9:00-9:30 PM: 9 votes (3%)
9:30-10:00 PM: 6 votes (2%)
10:00 PM or later: 6 votes (2%)

Total of 242 votes

And here is another poll taken on this blog:

6:30 PM: 6 votes (7%)
7:00 PM: 14 votes (17%)
7:30 PM: 12 votes (14%)
8:00 PM: 23 votes (28%)
8:30 PM: 11 votes (13%)
9:00 PM: 3 votes (3%)
9:30 PM: 2 votes (2%)
10:00 PM: 8 votes (9%)
Who Knows! It changes every night!: 2 votes (2%)

Total of 81 votes

Pretoddler Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:00 PM (do you see a pattern here?)
Total nighttime sleep: 10-12 hours
Key transition: Baby moves from 2 naps to 1 nap

A pretoddler is in the age range of 12-18 months old. Pretoddlers will start out with two naps a day. Most will drop to one nap a day sometime between 14-18 months old.

We are still aiming for a bedtime 10-12 hours before your start time of day. You might need to shift bedtime back a little later if your little one is almost ready for one nap a day but not quite there yet.

>>>Read: Dropping the Morning Nap Full Guide

The one-nap transition:

This is often the most challenging nap transition. Signs your child might be ready:

Consistently refusing one of the two naps
Taking very short naps when attempting two
Taking extremely long (3+ hours) afternoon naps
Showing no sleepiness at nap time

Bedtime strategy during this transition:

Week 1-2: Very early bedtime (6:30-7:00 PM) as baby adjusts
Week 3-4: Gradually shift later by 15-minute increments
Week 5+: Resume normal bedtime window once adjusted

Example pre-transition schedule:

7:00 AM – Wake
9:30 AM – Nap 1 (1 hour)
2:00 PM – Nap 2 (1.5 hours)
7:30 PM – Bedtime

Example post-transition schedule:

7:00 AM – Wake
12:30 PM – Nap (2-3 hours)
7:30 PM – Bedtime

Toddler Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:00 PM
Total nighttime sleep: 10-12 hours
Naps: One nap per day (1.5-3 hours)

Toddlers are 18 months through 2 years old. Toddlers will be solidly at one nap a day. Still focus on bedtime being 10-12 hours before your morning wake up time.

Two year olds often have a 2 year old sleep regression where they play and play before bedtime after being put to bed. I would recommend you focus on bedtime being close to 12 hours before morning wake up time so you can have wiggle room for playing and still falling asleep by a decent time.

>>>Read: How To Solve Sleep Problems for Toddlers and Preschoolers

The 2-year sleep regression:

Around age 2, many children suddenly start resisting bedtime after months of sleeping well. This is developmental, not behavioral:

What’s happening:

Imagination developing (fears of monsters, dark)
Testing boundaries and asserting independence
Language explosion creating mental stimulation
Awareness of FOMO (fear of missing out)

Solutions for the 2-year regression:

Maintain firm boundaries – Bedtime is non-negotiable, even if sleep takes longer
Allow “quiet time” in bed – It’s okay if they play quietly for 30 minutes before sleeping
Address fears calmly – Night lights, monster spray, door slightly open
Provide control where possible – “Which pajamas? Which bedtime story?”
Earlier bedtime temporarily – If bedtime is 7:30, make it 7:00 so play time still results in sleep by 7:30

Bedtime resistance vs. delayed sleep:

Bedtime resistance: Child cries, calls out, gets out of bed repeatedly
Solution: Return calmly and consistently without engaging. This is boundary-testing. Read: What To Do When Your Toddler/Child is Getting Out of Bed

Delayed sleep: Child stays in bed/room but plays quietly for 30-60 minutes
Solution: Often developmental. Ensure bedtime is early enough that sleep still happens at a reasonable hour.

Preschooler Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:00 PM
Total nighttime sleep: 10-12 hours
Naps: Some 3-4 year old still nap; most 4-5 year olds do not

Preschoolers are 3 and 4 year olds. Preschooler bedtime shouldn’t shift much. When your preschooler has days she skips her daytime nap (which is normal), you might need to move bedtime up by 30 minutes that day.

Managing the nap drop:

When preschoolers give up their afternoon nap, bedtime management becomes crucial:

On days WITH a nap:

Regular bedtime (7:30 PM)
Nap should end by 3:00-4:00 PM to protect nighttime sleep

On days WITHOUT a nap:

Earlier bedtime (7:00 PM or even 6:30 PM)
Watch for overtiredness signs
May need an abbreviated bedtime routine if very tired

Bedtime routine evolution:

Preschoolers benefit from increased participation in their bedtime routine:

Let them choose pajamas from two options
Allow them to “read” to you or to a stuffed animal
Create a bedtime chart they can check off
Give 5-minute and 2-minute warnings before routine starts

School readiness:

Many preschool and kindergarten teachers emphasize that consistent early bedtime is the #1 factor in school readiness. Well-rested children:

Have better attention spans
Regulate emotions more effectively
Learn new concepts more easily
Have more positive peer interactions

Child Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:00-8:30 PM
Total nighttime sleep: 10-12 hours
No naps (except when sick)

The child age range is 5-8 years old. This will take your child from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. You will hear many, many times over those years from your child’s teacher and school how important an early bedtime is for your child.

This is when bedtime just might start to shift some. Your child still needs 10-12 hours of sleep at night.

>>>Read: Sleep Needs and Difficulties for 7-12 Year Olds

Why bedtime starts shifting:

This age range marks the first time bedtime might genuinely shift later for some families:

Reasons for later bedtime:

School pickup/dropoff timing
After-school activities
Homework time
Family dinner schedule
Later wake times required by school start

Important caveat: Only shift bedtime later if it doesn’t compromise total sleep hours. A child who wakes at 6:30 AM for school still needs bedtime by 7:30-8:30 PM to get adequate sleep.

The homework-bedtime balance:

Many parents struggle with homework cutting into bedtime. Strategies:

Start homework immediately after school
Break it into smaller chunks with breaks
Communicate with teacher if homework consistently prevents adequate sleep
Prioritize sleep over perfection on difficult nights

Example schedule:

6:30 AM – Wake
3:30 PM – Home from school, snack
4:00 PM – Homework
5:30 PM – Free play
6:00 PM – Family dinner
7:00 PM – Bath and bedtime routine
7:45 PM – Lights out
Expected sleep time: 8:00 PM

Preteen Bedtime

Ideal bedtime hour: 7:30-9:00 PM
Total nighttime sleep: 9-11 hours
Consider: Wind-down time before lights out

Preteen, or Tween, is ages 9-12 years old. Your child needs at least 9 hours of sleep at night at this age. I aim for 10-11 typically in this age range. Preteens often like some wind-down time once in bed, so it is wise to have something like an 8 PM bedtime with a lights-out time of 8:30 if your child is getting up at 7:00 AM.

If your tween is responsible, let your tween decide lights-out time. I would start this more around age 10 or 11. Help your child recognize how he/she feels after a certain number of hours of sleep. Feeling sleepy with 9 hours? Let’s aim for 9.5 hours tonight. Feeling groggy with 10.5 hours? How about we try out 10 hours.

Help your child respect and recognize the benefits of healthy sleep. You have worked his whole life on establishing healthy sleep habits. Do not send your child out into adulthood never having practiced ownership over his own sleep. Help her recognize the benefits of choosing healthy sleep while you still have influence over her.

Biological changes:

Preteens begin experiencing early hormonal changes that can affect sleep:

Slight shift in circadian rhythm (natural tendency toward later sleep)
Increased academic demands and stress
Social awareness
Growing independence and desire for control

The two-stage bedtime:

Many families find success with “in your room” time vs. “lights out” time:

Example:

8:00 PM – In room, electronics off
8:00-8:30 PM – Reading, journaling, quiet activity
8:30 PM – Lights out

This gives preteens autonomy while ensuring adequate sleep.

Teaching sleep ownership:

This is the ideal age to start teaching children to recognize their own sleep needs:

“How did you feel today after 9 hours of sleep?”
“You were pretty grumpy this afternoon – let’s try 9.5 hours tonight and see if that helps”

Electronics and sleep:

The preteen years are when screen time before bed becomes a major issue:

Blue light suppresses melatonin production
Social media provides endless stimulation (I highly recommend, and even implore you, to not allow social media acconts until your child is at least 14 years old)
Fear of missing out keeps kids scrolling or binging

Solutions:

No screens in bedrooms (charge phones in parents’ room)
Screen curfew 1 hour before lights out
Use parental controls to enforce timing
Model good screen habits yourself

Teen Bedtime

Ideal Bedtime hour: 8:00-10:00 PM
Total nighttime sleep: 8-10 hours
Important factor: School start time often conflicts with biological needs

Teenagers are 13-18 years old (for the purpose of this…I am assuming your child will move out at 18-19 years old). Teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep. Start when your teenager needs to get up in the morning and work backward. For example, at age 14, Brayden woke up at 6 AM. That means to get 8-10 hours of sleep, bedtime needed to happen between 8-10 PM.

Just like preteens like some wind down time, so do teens. Take that into consideration when deciding “bedtime.” You will likely have an “in your room” time and then a “lights out” time. Continue to allow your teen decide bedtime.

As the parent, you can always decide “in your room” time. Be sure you do not allow electronics in the bedroom so you can help your child choose bedtime when your child is tired rather than staying up to watch one more show or scroll social media one more time.

The teen sleep crisis:

Teenagers face a perfect storm of sleep challenges:

Biological circadian shift (natural melatonin production delayed by 2 hours)
Early school start times (many schools start at 7:30 AM or earlier)
Heavy homework loads
Social pressures and activities
Increased technology use

Balancing biology and schedules:

While teens’ bodies naturally want to stay up later, most still need early wake times:

Teen with 6:00 AM wake time:

Needs bedtime by 8:00-10:00 PM for adequate sleep
Will likely need 9:00-9:30 PM lights out
Room time can start at 8:30 PM

Teen with 7:00 AM wake time:

Needs bedtime by 9:00-11:00 PM
10:00-10:30 PM lights out is reasonable
Room time can start at 9:00-9:30 PM

Giving teens control:

Teens should have significant input on their bedtime:

Discuss together the sleep they need to function well
Calculate backward from wake time
Let them have input in their own “room time” and “lights out”
Check in weekly: “How are you feeling? Is this working?”
Adjust together if they’re showing signs of sleep deprivation

Signs of teen sleep deprivation:

Difficulty waking in morning (needs multiple alarms)
Falling asleep in class
Mood swings or increased irritability
Academic performance decline
Increased illness
Dependence on caffeine

The weekend sleep dilemma:

Teens often try to “catch up” on sleep over weekends, sleeping until noon or later. While some catch-up sleep is normal, it creates a problematic pattern. Sleeping until noon Sunday makes it impossible to fall asleep Sunday night at a reasonable hour.

Better approach:

Wake by 9:00-10:00 AM even on weekends
Maintain a reasonably consistent sleep schedule
Have a curfew

No electronics in bedrooms:

This rule becomes even more critical for teens:

Phones, tablets, laptops stay in a central charging location
Gaming systems in common areas, not bedrooms
Use parental controls if needed
Negotiate exceptions for specific homework needs

Common Bedtime Challenges and Solutions

Here are some common challenges and help to solve those.

“My child isn’t tired at bedtime”

Possible causes:

Too much daytime sleep – May need to shorten or drop a nap
Not enough physical activity – Increase outdoor play and exercise
Screen time before bed – Creates artificial wakefulness
Inconsistent schedule – Body doesn’t know when to expect sleep

Solutions:

Ensure wake time and nap times are consistent
Add outdoor play, preferably in the afternoon
Screen curfew 1-2 hours before bed
Dim lights in evening to support melatonin production

“Bedtime takes 2+ hours”

For toddlers/preschoolers:

Ensure bedtime routine is SHORT (15-20 minutes maximum)
Check that bedtime isn’t too early for their current sleep needs
Rule out fears, discomfort, or other issues
Consider sleep training if child is developmentally appropriate

For older children:

May indicate bedtime is too early
Check for anxiety or worries keeping them awake
Ensure bedroom is conducive to sleep (cool, dark, quiet)
Consider whether they have sufficient physical activity

“Different bedtimes for different children”

This is completely normal and often necessary:

Strategies for multiple bedtimes:

Stagger by 30 minutes – Younger child at 7:00, older at 7:30
Same routine, different rooms – Do routine together but separate for actual sleep
Special time – Older child gets alone time with parent after younger sibling sleeps
Common routine elements – Bath time together, then separate story time

Example for families with multiple children:

6:45 PM – All children start getting ready together
7:00 PM – Youngest child’s routine (toddler)
7:15 PM – Toddler to bed, middle child’s routine (preschooler)
7:30 PM – Preschooler to bed, oldest child’s routine (7-year-old)
7:45 PM – All children in bed

“My spouse wants a later bedtime”

This common conflict often stems from work schedules:

Understanding both perspectives:

Working parent wants time with children
At-home parent needs evening break
Both are valid needs

Compromise solutions:

Quality over quantity – 30 minutes of engaged play before bedtime routine
Morning time – Working parent does morning routine
Weekend flexibility – Later bedtime Friday/Saturday
Earlier work arrival – Come home earlier by starting work earlier
Prioritize child’s needs – Have honest conversation about behavioral impacts of late bedtime
At-home parent break – The at-home parent takes a break alone somewhere while working parent spends time with the kiddos

Key question: Is the later bedtime truly benefiting the child, or just the adults?

“Bedtime works at home but fails when traveling”

Prevention strategies:

Bring familiar bedtime items (lovey, sound machine, special blanket)
Maintain bedtime routine even in new location
Request quiet, dark room when possible
Stick as close to home schedule as possible

Recovery after travel:

Expect 3-5 days to get back on track
Resume normal schedule immediately upon return
Earlier temporary bedtime may help reset overtired child
Be patient and consistent

Conclusion

I hope you noticed as you read through that all that bedtime does not shift a whole lot over the years. Do not underestimate the power of a consistent bedtime. Do not underestimate the power of setting a precedent of prioritizing bedtime from a young age. If bedtime is always highly valued, you will get little to no pushback from your preteen.

Healthy sleep habits are worth forming early and sticking to throughout life!

Sleep Totals: How Much Sleep Should Your Child Get?

Bedtime Tips from Readers

I asked readers for their tips and thoughts on bedtime. Here is what they said:

What do you do that makes bedtime go smoother?

same routine every night, she pitched a lot of fits at bedtime from ages 2-4 but now is finally better
Exact same routine is important to him.
make sure he doesn’t get overtired
we find that if we go up to bedtime in a good mood (at least not crying) then the routine goes more smoothly and not as long as if he’s upset about something
Keep the same routine always.
Keep a routine and stick with bed times the majority of the time. Unless its just really late, still do the read and sing routine, even if shortened, to give them a few minutes to calm down and relax before lights out.
Same routine night after night. If there is any major stalling, non compliance, fussing we take away reading the book. Most always, the warning about it does the trick.
Communicate expectations and be willing to enforce them (NEVER BACK DOWN).
We try to keep the same routine every night that we can.
Goes to sleep fine, wakes a little earlier, not too many issues. If I’m concerned with him going down, I’ll do a bath first.
We’ve had the same routine more or less since birth for both boys. Same songs, same order, prayers – our boys know what to expect and they calm down as we go through the bedtime motions.
Bath
Music and a warm sponge bath or bath. Knock on wood bedtime has been this way since day 3, and works awesome trouble is I can’t seem to extend it out cuz he’s a sleepy boy
Consistency. Keeping the same order of things to get those sleep cues going.
1. start early so it’s not too rushed. 2. have clear expectations- my 4 year old puts on her own pjs. if she plays around too much she misses story time bc we don’t wait for her to start. if I had time to dress 2 little ones, she had plenty of time to dress herself. We also have a set number of hugs and kisses given at bedtime.
We have always had a routine since day one. It’s changed over time, but always always the same routine every night. We even let babysitters know.
Putting the littlest to bed 30 minutes before the older leaves me to be able to give the older one undivided attention. Even if little one doesn’t sleep I leave him to fuss while I tend to the older one, he deserves that time and he sleeps much better after having that time.
the same thing every night. If it wasn’t a special event, the bedtime routine really never changes at all.
we stick to the routine
Try not to rush it and make sure we have time to read a book and goof off before bed.
We keep it consistent and try to recreate as much as possible when traveling.
I try to do what I can with both kids at once. Both kids get dressed at once, both kids are now bathing at once, and sometimes they get the same bedtime story which means I don’t read to my daughter after her brother goes to bed. That’s on my Mommy nights! LOL That’s rare, though.

Any thoughts or advice on bedtime and its importance?

Her attitude throughout the day tells me she needs more sleep and she always falls asleep IMMEDIATELY when we put her in bed. Hubby won’t allow an earlier bedtime because he wants to spend time with them after work. We like the bedtime routine to be quality time with the child but that means we need to have plenty of time (start early) so we aren’t rushing and getting upset with them.
It is a sweet time with him as long as we are not in a rush and follow the routine perfectly! Also, a tired child is less cooperative so it’s best to start BEFORE he gets tired.
put them to bed before they seem tired!
Sleep train so you’re not having to put them to sleep but understand that they go through stages and sometimes they’ll need extra snuggles or “one more hug”
Since my kids do not do well with later bedtimes, we know we may have to leave parties early and we do not make late night plans for them.
I function best when I have a bedtime routine and go to bed at a fairly consistent time, and my kids definitely do as well. We leave functions early or skip out altogether sometimes. However, as they are getting older, there is more room for flexibility. To those with babies and younger toddlers, I would remind them that it is a season!
My children are so much more better behaved when they have had a long night. They can control their emotions better. It is also very helpful for yourself and your marriage. Being able to do a hobby after bedtime, relax with your husband, grab coffee with a friend, etc helps me be a better mom.
I seriously get anxiety when I think about my kids eventually needing later bedtimes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that they go to bed so early and I have time alone with my husband to relax and unwind. Early bedtimes are the best. I know at some point our kids will go to bed a little later, but we are soaking up the time now.
Daily morning Wake time is the most important thing about bed time. Also have them sleep in a pack nnplay every so often so u can take them with u for later evenings at friends from time to time. So nice to have this opportunity!
Children experience a lot of comfort and security through routine and our boys find their beds a soothing, restorative place. I think the bedtime routine has been really essential to that and both my boys, while very different in personality, are both great sleepers.
Still working on this to figure out perfect timing but know a routine is important
Even if you don’t have solid naps a solid bedtime plus routine is important but if the time changes that ok they need to be flexible , in fact do something to switch the time up now and then on purpose for that reason… but the most important is the routine.(music warm bath etc)
on a typical day I actually start gearing up for bed time as early as 4pm. Meaning I get the house ready. Choose quiet activities for the evening. Dinner prepped and on the table for the kids by 6pm. Time with dad. Bath by 7. Milk and stories by 730. Lights out by 8pm. Works like clockwork.
1. It’s better for our kids to be in bed 10 minutes early, rather than 10 minutes late. 2. Since our kids are young, we make bedtime a priority. This means we say no to lots of things, but as they are getting older we can stretch and say yes to more. It’s worth the temporary sacrifice!
To us, bedtime sets a precedent for the next day and that’s why it’s important to us. Our babies are just happier on their routine so we adjust around it to a certain extent.
When you have 4 kids, having a predictable “time off” is very important not only for yourself but also for your marriage. I’m not sure I could function without my nightly shower and wind-down time with my husband. I certainly wouldn’t be a happy person without those things lol
My kids need far earlier bedtimes than what the world around me would suggest. We’ve tried later ones for consistent periods of time and it does not go well. If an earlier bedtime works better for your child and family, it’s beneficial to the child and family to use it.
A regular and early bedtime makes for a happy child and happy parents
Consistent bedtime is so important when sleep training and should be started right away. Create a routine that they can get used to so they know what’s coming, but don’t make it so rigid that if you’re away you can’t keep the same routine or that if it has to be different, that they can’t handle that.
We think it’s very important for us because he is happier. We don’t compromise on his bedtime.
Setting up a bedtime is critical for your sanity, to be honest. You NEED to be consistent as much as possible for good results and good sleep. And every child responds differently. My kids are as opposite as can be, with one a morning person, and the other a night owl. With one child, he falls asleep right away; the other one needs firm rules at bedtime or she will play at all hours of the night if you let her. But with a good night’s sleep, both of my kids function very well — as do I! A good bedtime routine with repeated nightly rituals is quite comforting to both kids and moms! I know I for one cherish every step of it because I know *I* also get to go to sleep soon. LOL

What time kids should go to bed pinnable image with a picture of a baby and text overlay

This post first appeared on this blog in 2019

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