Parenting experts reveal EXACTLY when your child’s bedtime should be depending on their age

Parenting experts have revealed exactly when your child’s bedtime should be based on their age.

For toddlers, Angela Cain, a child and adolescent therapist with Zoe Clews & Associates, suggested they need 11 to 14 hours of sleep, including naps during the day, while three- to five-year-olds need 10 to 13 hours of restful sleep.

Meanwhile, 14- to 17-year-olds should apparently go to bed no later than 10 p.m. and avoid having electronic equipment like phones in their bedroom before bed.

Here, FEMAIL reveals the hours you should set for your children at bedtime, according to experts…

0-6 months = 20:00

Eve Squires, founder of Calm & Bright Sleep Support, co-author of Love To Sleep and sleep expert on The Baby Show, said: “Once they’re born, babies spend most of their time sleeping.”

“In the first half year of life, babies sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day, broken up into short bursts to allow for frequent feedings.

“In the first 6 months of life, it is normal for bedtime to be much later than parents might expect, and they often go to bed at the same time as the baby.

“Nighttime sleep is likely to be disrupted and unpredictable, with frequent nocturnal awakenings and feeding and short naps.”

6-12 months = 18:30 – 19:30

“From 6 to 12 months, babies will probably need 11 to 12 hours a night with about 2 to 4 hours of sleep a day in 1 to 3 naps,” Eve explained.

‘At this age, sleep serves as a service to the brain; allowing for immense neural development and creating space for new learning to take place.

‘It also allows for a strengthened immune system, regulating cardiovascular health, blood sugar levels, appetite hormone regulation and lower heart rate.

Healthy babies are capable of sleeping 11-12 hours at a time at this stage. That’s not to say they should, although family life is certainly more peaceful when they do.

Young children (1-2 years) = 7pm

Angela explained: ‘Toddlers get the most sleep, between 11 and 14 hours of sleep, including daytime naps.

‘A good nighttime routine instills a healthy pattern of sleeping behaviour, so ideally bath time should always be between 6pm and 6:30pm, followed by a relaxing bedtime story.

Lights should be turned off by 7:00 pm, which means you should wake up refreshed at 7:00 am A couple of hour-long naps throughout the day meet the recommended sleep for optimal development.

Eve added: “It’s very normal at this age for sleep to be broken or a battle, and bedtime negotiations take some parents hours.” Sleep can be worked on with the perseverance and commitment of parents so that sleep needs can be met.’

Preschool (3-5 Years) = 8pm

“Curious and active preschoolers need 10 to 13 hours of sleep,” Angela insisted. “As daytime naps are eliminated, they can become irritable towards the end of the day.

‘Create a routine that allows her mind to settle, starting with bath time again between 6pm and 6:30pm.

“You can follow this up with maybe a little TV for 15 minutes, a bedtime story, and then lights out around 8pm, allowing them to wake up ready for the day sometime after 6am.”

School Age (6 – 13 Years) = 9pm

Eve said: Sleep is still just as important in this age group, with children needing 9-11 hours a night to reach their full potential.

‘Sleep is needed to keep up with the demands of a busy school and home life. Adequate sleep lays the foundation for learning to occur, friendships to form and maintain, immunity to strengthen, and emotional regulation.

Angela said: “Sleep is good for the brain, so the recommended amount of sleep for this age group is about 9-12 hours a day.”

Older children still need a routine, but the elements (such as bedtime stories) can change. Bedtime should be between 8pm and 9pm depending on what age range they are in.

Adolescent (14-17 years old) = 22:00

“These are the notoriously difficult years for both parents and children,” Angela warned. “That’s why maintaining a healthy sleep routine is key to navigating it.

‘A good habit to get into is removing all electronics from the room to remove the temptation to check social media.

‘Bedtime should be between 9 p.m.

“If teens must nap, as many do after coming home from school, they should be limited to 20 minutes to avoid day/night confusion or insomnia,” Eve insisted.