Bedtime for 5 year old

[Mojocafa]

Hi

What time is acceptable bed time for child just turned 5?

Thanks in advance

[Thepinklady77]

The answer to that question is variable! It will vary according to the child! Some children needs lots of sleep, others not so much. It will also depend on the child’s wake up time and how active the are during the day. Most 5 years old need on average 11-12 hours sleep in the day. So if the child is up at 7 o’clock in the morning, have a reasonably active day you would expect them to be going to bed around 7/7.30pm. This obviously moves according to get up time.

My son (5) is very active during the day - walks, cycles, lots of outdoor play and very little tv time (no other screens) and he goes to bed at 6.30 with a view to be being asleep between 7-7.15. He wakes around 7am although does not get up until 7.30 as he waits for his gro clock to light up. I don’t foresee this schedule changing for another year or so with him. He can on special occasions do later but we try largely to keep to this schedule.

[Mojocafa]

Thankyou, for your response, that’s basically what I am doing too, cheers

[Jellycatspyjamas]

My DS when he was 5 was in bed by 7.30 and up again around 7.30am so about 12 hours sleep. Towards the end of the school week that might move forward to 6.30/7.00 ie he’d be falling asleep in his dinner.

I think adopted children both need enormous amounts of sleep - it’s one way their system processes change and trauma - and can really struggle to sleep, due to adrenaline and cortisol levels. At that age I’d say let them sleep as much as they will.

[Weatherforducks]

My 5 year old has always liked an hour to decompress in his room before sleep (him and his younger sib are very close in age, so I think he appreciates the peace and quiet).

So, they go to bed at 6:30pm to play in their own rooms, lights out at 7:30.

They are both up at 7, in a morning they are allowed to play in each others rooms until we get up.

[Wintersun13]

Wow that's really early ! My 18-month old rarely goes to bed before 20h30 and he wakes up around 7am. Of course he still naps during the day but I can't imagine putting him to bed any earlier.

[Thepinklady77]

@Wintersun13 when he drops his nap and the activity increases as he gets older you will likely find he will not last until 8.30, but every child is different so you never know.

Personally i need my evenings to myself. We are full on with the kids throughout the day and need to know that come 7 o’clock I can get some me time/us time/job time.

[crustycrab]

6.30-7 here. The eldest is allowed to read in bed (dcs 8 and 6)

[Mojocafa]

Thanks everyone, confirms what I am doing, cheers!

[ScissorsBike]

7.30

[Wintersun13]

@Thepinklady77

You may be right, time will tell ! I feel like you that I need my evenings to myself but I also like my sleep in the morning so I figured putting him to bed a bit later was worth it to get an extra hour in the morning ! (and also he doesn't necessarily seem overly tired before then, possibly because last feed of the day has always been 20h and he got used to that).