What time is a suitable bed time for a 4 year old child?

Question

My son never wants to go to bed at a stable time, what is a good time for him to go into bed? please help as he needs a routine.

Answer 1

I have kids of 8, 31/2 and 17 months, my two younger ones have a bath around 6.30 - 7.00 and then go to bed at 7.30, they sleep right through till 7.30 - 8.00 in the morning, they have done this from very young! My daughter the 8 year old has a bath around 7.30 and is always in bed before 8.30, sometimes later at week ends! Kids do need routine as much as adults do, keeps me sane, be a mad house here if we didnt have a rountine!! Hope this helps hun xxx

Answer 2

I have 4 girls ages 8,6,3,2. When the 2 older ones finish school, they come straight home, do there homework, then dinner they get to play for a short time, they then have baths/showers and in bed by 7.30 pm! at the weekends they are up a bit later but i still stick to there routine!
I've always had a bit of a routine but recently i have stuck to it religiously and what a difference it has made! The kids are more settled and are now tired by 7pm, n there dad and i can spend some quality time together!
Good luck with it and I'm sure once you see the benefits of having a routine you will never go back!

Answer 3

Look at your lifestyle and morning needs. When my oldest was 4 the bedtime was 9pm. I was a stay at home parent so we generally did not have anywhere we HAD to be anytime early in the morning. This allowed her and ME to sleep a bit later (usually 7:30ish). But once she started school she needed more sleep than she was getting so the bedtime moved to 8pm. We moved it for all children at the same time. So now the average wake up time is 6:30-7am, but since we have school to get ready for it works well.

You are correct in stating that he needs a routine - and you are going to have to be the one to create and enforce it. The routine needs to be more than just it is "8pm time for bed." What works for us is about 1/2 hour before bedtime we pick up toys, get on pjs, brush teeth, read a story and then go to bed. All the kids know the order now (except the 10mo old) and we really don't have any issues. the only time we get the "I'm not tired" lines is when we stray from the routine and realize that we are past bedtime and attempt to go straight to the toothbrushing and bed. The first week or so will be hard, but you are the parent and you need to tell your child in no uncertain terms that this is the way you are doing things. After he understands the routine things will be much more smooth for all of you.

Answer 4

It really depends on what the rest of his sleep schedule is like. If he's not napping you should start his bedtime routine at 7-730, and have him in bed by 8-830. If he naps well atleast once during the day, he could go to bed a little later.

4 year olds need a solid 12 hours of sleep per 24 hour period. With atleast 8-9 at night. Usually a 1-2 hour nap is acceptable at that age. But if he doesnt nap thats fine, he can get a good nights sleep and make up for it.

Answer 5

Every child is different. Mine are 7 and 8 and both still sleep a full 12 hours a night so they go to bed at 8pm at the very latest (obviously I'm not so strict if they haven't got to get up for school). I found that routine was the key to an easier life and was always extremely strict with their night-time routine: supper, bath, story, bed. It's worked for me and I've got two extremely bright, healthy, happy children - good luck x

Answer 6

Between 7 and 7.30pm. Children need between 10 and 12 hours sleep per night, and in my experience most children are up about 7am.

My son is 7 now and he goes to bed at 8pm on a school night and 9pm at the weekends if he's behaved himself(on the basis that if he's tired and grumpy a normal bedtime can be enforced without it being a punishment).

Bedtime routine is one of the hardest things to crack, good luck!

Answer 7

I think about 7pm would be about right. In our nursery class even the less experienced staff can identify children who have not had enough sleep. If you have to wake them up, they are probably going to late.
From personal exp. of a son who wouldnt fall asleep without me, getting in to a routine is essential (but not always easy). Start a 'calm down' time before bed time.
Keep it calm,
give them positive attention/their time
be consistent - children like to know the boundaries
if child creates a fuss - put them back into bed with as little interaction as possible (children will accept negative attention, it is still attention)
Keep doing it - even when you're about to give up.
GOOD LUCK.

Answer 8

My 2 daughters aged 2,8 and they have gone to bed at 7:30 ever since the day they have been born and i think that is very reasonable time for bed so from school its tea time then bath then read a story works like a treat for me never let me down yet

Answer 9

try this for routine it works for my 3 and 5 year old. Dinner around 5pm they then watch a short dvd teeth and milk 630pm story with daddy and bed around 7pm of course a bath is good too helps relax, but no stimulation after 6pm. the eldest also gets a second story in bed if he is good

Answer 10

My children both go to bed at 8pm. They are 6 and 9 though. When they were 4 they went at about 730pm. It depends on how much sleep he needs I suppose. Routine is good though as it gives you some quiet time.