Sleep for 4 and 6 Year Olds

[StopSpinning]

I'd be really interested please to hear how long other people's 4 and 6 year olds sleep for.

My 6 year old tends to sleep 9-9.30pm to 7.45am, bedtime starts MUCH earlier but he has ASD and there is an elaborate routine we have to go through culminating in staging with him until he is asleep. He would sleep longer in the morning at weekends I think but the 4 year old invariably wakes him up. So total around 10.5hrs.

My 4 year old has no diagnosed issues but just doesn't seem to be keen on sleep. He sleeps 8.30-8.45am until 7.15am ish but sometimes earlier I suspect (he has a grow clock and waits for the sun to come on but makes noise!). He will, if allowed, stay up later but always wakes up at the same time regardless of bedtime! So also around 10.5hrs.

This doesn't seem enough to me for either of them but maybe I'm wrong?! I would love some comparisons please!

Oops 4 year old should say 8.30-8.45pm to 7.15am. Sorry, I'm fresh down from negotiating with the 4 year old and feeling weary!

My 6 and 3 year olds are up before 6 every single morning, regardless of what time they go to bed. My 3 year old ideally needs to be in bed before 7, 6 year old 7.15 for them to have enough sleep. 6 year old is happy on 10.5 hours, 3 year old needs more.

If you don’t think they’re getting enough, put them to bed earlier - they both have quite late bed times for their ages, and if they go to bed a bit earlier they’ll probably sleep until the same time

My ds is 9 at age 4 and 6 he was in bed for 7pm and woke up about 6.30/7am.

My 5 year old goes to bed between 7.30-8pm and most days sleeps until 8am. Obviously doesn't always happen like that. But a good full 12 hours is always best for her temperament and energy levels.

My boys are 6 and 4. They have to get up every morning at 7am to make sure they have enough time to get ready for school.

They both go up to bed around 7pm. 4YO nods off anytime between then and 8pm. 6YO usually stays up reading in bed a bit later, he's usually asleep by 9pm.

I have a 4 and a 6 year old too.
4 year old still has a nap! Only 10 minutes a day but he needs it, he falls asleep straight after preschool or after dinner if at home. I only allow him 10 minutes.He sleeps 10 hours a night on average (8.30-6ish) and seems happy on that. I am not sure if the nap with ever end! If he goes a day without it (does so maybe once or twice a week) he will either fall asleep at 6 and wake at 4/5 or power through and turn into a crazy person still awake at 10!

6 year old falls asleep around 9.30 and wakes at half 6. He has never needed more sleep than that, it seems to just be what fits for him. Bedtime starts at 7 with a bath, then a chapter of his book and he is allowed to play Lego quietly until 8.30 before in bed to read and/or watch something quiet and low key (he enjoys these science and history videos that are very chilled so I allow them) I have tried lights out and quiet but the result is still the same and he is a lovely, sunny boy who is doing well at school so I am
Not stressing about his bedtime.

I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old. They are both in bed around 7pm and asleep by 8pm, then up by 6.30am. So 10.5 hours. This is fine for the 5 year old as he's never been the type to need loads of sleep, but the 3 year old tends to have the occasional nap, early night or lie in to keep him going.

I've noticed they've been finding it harder and harder to settle at night recently. Sometimes the 5 year old can be up until 9pm (like tonight!) for no apparent reason.

Sorry that's probably not helpful. Just wanted to say you're not alone!

Thanks so much.

Really good to have some comparisons.

6 year old does often seem tired but bedtimes are never easy as he's very attached to routine (which he will lengthen and never change back to a shorter version) if given any chance.

I think the 4 Year old is the Duracell bunny in a little boys body as he just never seems truly tired and wakes me EVERY morning!

Seems they are probably on the lower side but not by miles. Many of the school mums seem to imply that their 6 year olds all sleep 11-12 hours without fail! I feel slightly less like we are failing now!

5&6 here, 5yo is in bed and asleep between 6.30-7pm and up most days at 6-6.30am, 6yo is asleep between 7&8pm (we chat a lot at bedtime so it varies) and up 6.30-7am. At weekends 6yo may be up til 9pm but will still wake at 7am.

My two have always loved their sleep and they do need it, they're cranky as hell if they've not had their full hours. But, kids are so different, I know parents who's children are in bed closer to 9 and get up at 6 totally refreshed, so think it's just different for different kids/families.

Also have 4 and 6. DS4 sleeps 8.30-6 ish, 6.30 if we're lucky but sometimes still up before 6 (ugh), no nap. DS6 has no SEN but needs a v rigid routine and takes a long time to wind down, always has; he sleeps c 9-6.30 on a good night. So similar to yours. They are def on the low side but we are just glad that DS6 finally sleeps through and DS4, who never does, now only wakes once. We have tried starting the bedtime routine early but it doesn't seem to make any difference unfortunately especially for our older son.

I have a 5 and 7yo and have just changed their bedtime as they don't seem to need as early as they were going (both asleep by 7pm) so now the plan is for 5yo lights out 7pm and 7yo lights out 7.30pm. They both get up when their gro clock says they can at 6.45am. I think the 5yo would sleep later but her brother is usually awake by 6.30am. Believe me I've tried later bedtime but they still get up at sparrows fart !

That sounds in the average range to me (nothing scientific, just anecdotal!). I have DCs the same age as yours (and also autistic).

6yo sleeps 8:00-8:30pm to 6:00-6:30am, so about 10 hours. He wouldn’t get to sleep earlier, think he gets woken up by the 4yo but seems to be fine on this much sleep, occasionally stays sleeping until 7am.

4yo sleeps 6:30-7:00pm to 6:00-6:30am, so about 11-12 hours. He wouldn’t get to sleep later, 7:15pm is his limit! Sometimes wakes earlier, eg 5:30am but tends to occupy himself in his bedroom, or comes and sits in our bed until the alarm goes at 6:30am.

These patterns have developed over time, DC1 used to go to bed earlier but after a while started waking very early when it became clear he was no longer a 12 hour sleeper.

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I think I'll just keep up the wishful thinking then that they slept a bit earlier at night!

We are lucky really I guess that mornings aren't too early.

My 6 year old goes to bed around 8/8:30pm but she plays and reads in her room for a bit. I leave her to it and she usually goes to sleep about 9pm, sometimes later. She is usually up around 6:30/7am, so about 9.5 to 10 hours most nights.