Sometimes, when we’re trying to understand why young children are arguing over bedtime, we ignore the obvious: we’re choosing the wrong time!, however, when it comes to parenting young children, where flexibility is paramount, you may wonder if they should have a “fixed” bedtime.
Should Toddlers Go to Bed on Time?
Young children (ages 1 to 5) get about 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day (including naps), but half of them wake up in the middle of the night without a solid sleep schedule. That’s why putting toddlers to bed not only reduces the hassle of sleeping, but also helps the whole family get more sleep time. Not to mention, the daily activities are very comfortable for young children. So, choose a bedtime routine that works for your child and try to stick to it!
What Time Should Toddlers Go to Bed?
For most kids, the lights out time is around 9 p.m. (about 30 minutes), but delaying – or trying to force it early – can lead to more midnight wakes! I’ve found that the best time tends to be around 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., but every child is different.
When Is It Too Early for Toddlers to Go to Bed?
For most toddlers, asking them to sleep from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. is too much. It’s just more sleep than they need.
Signs that you may be going to bed too early include:
- It will take 30 to 60 minutes for your child to fall asleep.
- Your child shows no signs of fatigue at bedtime.
- Your child will wake up in the middle of the night or early the next morning, refreshed and ready to go.
When Do Toddlers Go to Bed Late?
Children who are overtired often become more agitated. Instead of relaxing, they become nervous! This leads to bedtime resistance, and these struggling memories can have an impact throughout the night and wake your child up in the middle of the night when they enter the light sleep stage.
Here are some signs that your child is going to bedtime too late:
- Your child has trouble falling asleep for 30 to 60 minutes.
- They have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, they are particularly irritable and moody during the day, and they fall asleep in cars or strollers.
- Your child shows obvious signs of fatigue at bedtime (rubbing his eyes, blinking, yawning, becoming stupid and crazy, acting irritable, having an accident).
How to Find the Right Bedtime Routine for Your Child
If you think bedtime is too early, try delaying your child’s bedtime by 15 minutes on two to three nights. If you think it’s too late for bedtime, start your routine 15 minutes early every two to three nights. Either method should work within a week or two.
Does Sleep Regress at Age 3?
There are many factors that can interfere with a toddler’s sleep. Toddlers love to run, dance, and explore—and they can be quite rigid in their responses to your demands—all of which can lead to bedtime rebellion! That’s why it’s so important to establish a routine. Another contributing factor is sleep disturbances such as nightmares, confusion, and nocturnal terrorists.