It is important to have a wind-down period for your child before they go to bed. Anytime between 7pm and 8pm is a good guide to settle your child down for the night. Then gradually bring bedtime back by 15 minutes a night to the bedtime you want. You may need to make bedtime later for a while until they can do this. A child should fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed. if your child gets out of bed or comes into your room, then return them to their own bedĭon’t put your child to bed too early.set clear limits and boundaries at bedtime – if you say you’ll read them 2 stories, then stick to this.make sure your child has had a good meal, a drink and has been to the toilet - this will avoid requests to get out of bed.To help keep your existing bedtime routine consistent: Keep going even if you meet resistance initially, it will get easier. It will help your child feel secure and loved. Your child will then know what to expect.

Some children resist going to bed while others go to bed but get up repeatedly.įollow the bedtime routine in the same way at the same time each night. It is natural for children to test boundaries at bedtime, particularly between 3 to 6 years. Try get them back into a good bedtime routine as soon as you can after the event. Holidays or illness or a change in routine can often upset sleep. This is especially true when they start attending. When your child comes home from pre-school or their childminder, they may be very tired because of the routine and activity there. Some quiet time reading and playing may be enough. From about 3 to 5 yearsĪt aged 3, they may need 1 nap during the daytime of up to 1 hour. They need to be tired and ready for sleep again by night time. Try not to let your child nap beyond mid-afternoon. The length depends on your child and their activity that day. They need 1 nap during the day of up to 1 hour. Your child needs around 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night. This will help them to be tired and ready for sleep again by night time (7pm to 9pm). Try not to let your child nap beyond the mid-afternoon (3.30pm). They need 1 nap during the day for between 1.5 to 2 hours. You can help your child’s development by making sure they are well-rested. 2 to 5 years sleep routineĮvery child has a different sleep pattern. This includes mobiles above their cot or bed. Make sure it is clean and not a danger to them while they are sleeping. Some children like to bring a favourite toy or blanket with them as they settle down to sleep. Leave the bedroom door open so that they can hear some soothing and familiar noises outside. Read a short bedtime story to help them relax before sleep. Put them to bed drowsy but awake, so they wake up where they went to sleep. This will give you some light to check on your child during the night. Switch on a night light in the room so that they do not feel upset if they wake up in the dark. Bed timeīrush their teeth and make sure they have a clean nappy when they go to bed. Turn off all screens and the television an hour before bed. Give them a supper of carbohydrates like bread, rice or cereals and some milk, which helps to produce the sleepy hormone melatonin. Do not give them a very large meal or sugary snacks or drinks just before bedtime. To help your toddler to sleep: Before they go to bedĪvoid exciting activities such as playing outside and running around just before bedtime. Make going to bed as predictable as possible. They should go to sleep and get up around the same time each day. Your toddler will thrive when there is a regular bedtime routine. They will usually need 1 nap during the day of about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Your child needs about 11 to 12 hours sleep a night. They will usually need 2 naps during the day of about 1 to 2 hours each. This is because they may not be tired enough for bedtime between 7pm to 9pm. Your baby will usually need 2 naps during the day of about 1.5 to 2 hours each.įrom this age on, babies shouldn't sleep after 3.30pm. But if you're breastfeeding, you may need to continue feeds at night. Night feeds are no longer needed if your baby is fully weaned onto solid foods. Your baby needs about 10 to 12 hours sleep a night. At this age, babies are less likely to sleep after a feed.

They should sleep for between 1.5 to 2 hours for each of the first two naps. Your baby needs about 10 to 11 hours sleep a night. The information below is based on average amounts of sleep. Every child has a different sleep pattern.

6 month old wake up time