Sleep guidelines for preschoolers

You know your child needs less sleep now than they did when they were a baby, but how much is enough? Every child is different – some need more sleep than others. But here are general guidelines for how many hours of sleep a child needs on average each day and how you can promote healthy sleep habits.

How many hours of sleep does my preschooler need?

Young children aged three to five years old need 10 to 13 hours of sleep, including naps (NHS 2020a).

The amount of sleep your child needs changes as they get older. Children aged six to 12 years old need nine to 12 hours, while teenagers need eight to 10 hours (NHS 2020b).

Does my preschooler still need a daytime nap?

Many preschoolers get all their sleep at night and may give up their afternoon naps. For preschoolers who still need to nap, set a regular time and have a consistent naptime routine. Most preschoolers nap for about an hour (Kids Health 2020).

What are the signs that my child isn’t getting enough sleep?

Keep in mind that most preschoolers need a lot of sleep – usually more than parents allow for. If a child has poor sleep habits or refuses to nap or go to bed before 10pm, parents will often assume that they just don't need much sleep. That's probably not the case – in fact, it's likely that such a child is actually sleep-deprived, hence their hyper, overtired behaviour at bedtime. To see whether your child falls into this category, ask yourself:

• Does my child frequently fall asleep while travelling on the bus or train, or in the car?
• Do they wake up frequently during the night?
• Do I have to wake them almost every morning?
• Do they seem grumpy, irritable or overtired during the day?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child may be getting less sleep than their body craves. To change this pattern, you'll need to help them develop good sleep habits, and set an appropriate bedtime and then stick to it (NHS 2020b).

How can I help my child get a good night’s sleep?

A relaxing bedtime routine is an important way to help your child get a good night's sleep. Doing the same relaxing things in the same order and at the same time each night helps promote good sleep:

• Introduce a wind down period an hour before bedtime.
• A short, warm bath will help your child relax and get ready for sleep.
• Keep lights dim to encourage your child's body to produce the sleep hormone, melatonin.
• Once they're in bed, encourage your child to read quietly or listen to some relaxing music, or read a story together (NHS 2020b).

More children’s sleep tips

• Find out how to deal with late night visits from your child.
• Discover what to do if your preschooler has a night terror or a nightmare.
• Help your child sleep through the night and get over their night-time fears.
• Read how sticking to a consistent sleep routine can help your child fall asleep.