Bedtime: What Time Does Your Kid Go to Sleep?

on February 5, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Adorable photo by my friend Peajewel

Thanks, bhwrn1 for asking, "What time does your 5-year-old go to bed?"

It's a simple, great question, and on this one it's easy to forget that every mom really does bedtime differently. My 5-year-old is in bed between 8:30 and 9 (which still feels late to me but I can't figure out how to get him down earlier). If it were up to him though, it would probably be 11 o'clock at night.

Between him and his younger brother, at least two nights a week bedtime is fought tooth and nail. Somebody is invariably, hungry, thirsty, angry, sad, scared, you name the emotion. It seems like once a kid decides he doesn't want to go to sleep, he'll come up with anything and everything as a reason why he can't.

Most kids between 5 and 12 get about 9.5 hours a night of sleep, but experts agree that most need 10 or 11 hours each night, says kidshealth.org.

Here's how they explain why this important to kids, and I think it's a kick a** script--one I totally plan on hijacking for the next time I have to make my case about why bedtime is not the enemy:

Not only is sleep necessary for your body, it's important for your brain, too. Though no one is exactly sure what work the brain does when you're asleep, some scientists think that the brain sorts through and stores information, replaces chemicals, and solves problems while you snooze.

When your body doesn't have enough hours to rest, you may feel tired or cranky, or you may be unable to think clearly. You might have a hard time following directions, or you might have an argument with a friend over something really stupid. A school assignment that's normally easy may feel impossible, or you may feel clumsy playing your favorite sport or instrument.

One more reason to get enough sleep: If you don't, you may not grow as well. That's right, researchers believe too little sleep can affect growth and your immune system - which keeps you from getting sick.

Now go to sleep! What time is bedtime for your kids between 5 and 12?

Filed Under: discipline, elementary school, health

Comments (23)

KendallsMommee

on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:45 PM

Kendall's only 23 months old, but her bedtime is 6 pm. She sleeps all night until about 8 am. She doesn't take naps during the day. This works for us.

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Mommy2Bears

on Feb 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM

I have a two and one year old and they go to bed around 8:30. Sleep is a different story. They fall asleep any where from 8:30 to 11:00. But as long as they stay in their beds I don't fight them. It's not worth the struggle. Once they start school it will be a fight I'll take on.

DeTora_Family

on Feb 5, 2009 at 10:19 PM

When my son hit the toddler stage he was so full of energy, that I waited for it to run down and see signs of him being tired. As his bedtime went from 7, to 8, to 9, and was fast approaching 10 p.m., I read something about sleep and kids, and it clicked. If they seem tired, it's waaaay past bedtime. So, with my oldest son, we skipped his nap the next day and did our regular bedtime routine at 6:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m. It was amazing. He didn't seem tired at all, but went right to sleep. He's older than 5 now, by I kept our bedtime routine between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. until he was over 9 years old.

mummasez

on Feb 5, 2009 at 10:30 PM

My little girl is 5 years old and a full time kindergartener. She is exhausted by 7:00 so that's when pjs go on, brush teeth or have bath done so we go in her room at 7:30 pm. Depending on her mood, we read one or two books then tuck in by 7:45/8:00 every night. She wakes at 7:00 everyday. We just switched our 9 and 10 year olds to 9:00 pm, but sometimes they are really tired and go to bed earlier on their own!

tikigoddess

on Feb 5, 2009 at 10:31 PM

By the time baths, hair, teeth and tuck-ins are done, it's about 9:10. My kids are 9,6 and 4, and they get up at 7:30. That's plenty of sleep.

Jmum

on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:00 PM

My two year old goes to bed at 9:30 and sleeps til between 8 and 10. I'm a SAHM and she's my only child so we're flexible in the morning. She also has a three hour nap at 2.

mrsrevjohnson

on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:08 PM

My youngest goes to be between 7-7:30PM, my 12 year old goes to bed at 8:30 and my 14 year old goes to bed anywhere from 8-9:30PM. He is always so tired from baseball practice he goes on his own. My kids are up early every morning ready to go. They have no problems going to bed early. They usually tell me they are going.

Peajewel

on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:22 PM

My daughter is two and she stays up until about 10:00. I am sure that is not good and at some point I will get it earlier but it works for now because in the morning I just take her to my Mom's house and she goes right back to sleep for a few hours and it helps my Mom out a lot.

P.S. Thanks for the "adorable" comment! I was late seeing the daily buzz today, I have a sick baby and and ailing Grandma.

ramblermama

on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:27 PM

my 8 year old stepson has had an 8pm bed time since he was 4 and its never been a struggle for us. its a nightmare for his mom cause she doesnt have a routine like we do and his little brother at her house (2) doesnt have a bed time at all! i dont blame him for feeling like its not fair!

my 2 month old goes in her bassinet around 7 but bed time is harder since shes not sleeping through the night yet

Mahoney4

on Feb 5, 2009 at 11:50 PM

I have a 8 and 9 yrs old they go to bed at 8 and are usually asleep no later then 9 when I have to fight with them they dont go to bed until 9 or 10 becouse they are fighting me the whole time and they get up between 6:30 and 7 their bus comes at 7:45. I feel that if their asleep by 8:30 at the latest then they still get enough sleep for the day. My son plays baseball so during baseball season on practice days they dont get to bed before 9 but they sleep in and I take them to school