Sleep for kids 3-5 years: schedules, routines, problems & FAQs

How much sleep do kids need at 3-5 years?

Children aged 3-5 years need 10-13 hours of sleep a night. Some might also have a day nap of about an hour.

Sometimes preschoolers can take a while to settle and get to sleep. This is because they’re busy thinking about the day even after they go to bed.

Sleep is important for your preschooler’s health, growth, development and learning. When preschoolers get enough good-quality sleep, they’re more settled and happy during the day. Getting enough sleep also strengthens your preschooler’s immune system and reduces their risk of infection and illness.

Bedtime routine for preschoolers

A positive bedtime routine can help preschoolers feel ready for sleep, especially if you follow the routine consistently, both during the week and on weekends.

A bedtime routine for preschoolers might look something like this:

7 pm – brush teeth and go to toilet or put on night nappy if needed.
7.15 pm – quiet time, like reading, telling a story, singing a song and having a cuddle.
7.30 pm – get into bed and say goodnight.

If your child is having sleep problems, it’s often best to deal with them using positive behaviour strategies like bedtime routines. Sleep medicines aren’t usually the solution to children’s sleep problems.

Sleep at 3-5 years: FAQs

What time should my preschooler aged 3-5 years go to bed?

Most preschoolers are ready for bed around 7.30 pm, especially if they’ve had a busy day at preschool.

If your preschooler resists going to bed, you could have a 2-3 book rule for bedtime, with the promise to read more during the day.

Should my preschooler still be using a dummy in bed?

If your preschooler takes a dummy to bed, now might be a good time to phase it out. A gradual approach is best.

This is because dummy use past 3-4 years of age increases the chance of dental problems later. It can also affect the growth of the palate and is linked to slightly higher rates of middle ear infections.

Read more about helping your child let go of the dummy.

How do I stop my preschooler from calling out and getting out of bed at night?

Tips like these can help:

Avoid boisterous play before bedtime.
Turn off the TV, computers and tablets an hour before bedtime.
Set up a consistent, calming bedtime routine.
Check that your preschooler has everything they need and their sleep environment is safe.
Remind your preschooler that it’s time to stay quietly in bed.

It’s also important to think about why your preschooler is behaving like this. Our article on calling out or getting out of bed explains and has more tips for you to try.

Why is my child taking hours to fall asleep?

If your child is taking a long time to get to sleep, it might be because they:

aren’t tired enough for sleep
are in the habit of being awake at that time
want to do a different activity, like playing with you
don’t think of their bed as a place for sleeping.

Try these steps:

Identify your child’s ‘natural’ and ‘ideal’ bedtimes. For example, your child’s natural bedtime right now is 10 pm, but the ideal bedtime for them is 7.30 pm.
Introduce a positive and consistent bedtime routine. This will help your child feel ready for sleep.
Put your child to bed at their ‘natural’ bedtime.
Move your child’s natural bedtime towards the ideal bedtime. This involves making bedtime about 15 minutes earlier every few days.

How can I get my preschooler to sleep in their own bed?

If your preschooler likes to sleep somewhere other than their own bed and you want to change this, try these tips:

Set up a regular bedtime routine that includes calm, quiet activities in your preschooler’s bedroom.
Check that your preschooler’s bedroom is dimly lit and quiet.
Encourage your preschooler to play in their bedroom during the day so they feel comfortable there.
Try to be consistent. Calmly return your preschooler to their bed as many times as it takes for them to stay in bed.
Praise your preschooler when they stay in their own bed. You could also try a reward chart.

Why is my child twitching in their sleep?

These twitches are probably ‘sleep starts’ – quick jerks of the arms and legs that happen as your child falls asleep. Up to 70% of children and grown-ups have sleep starts.

Tiredness, stress or lack of sleep might make twitching and jerking worse, so it can be worth checking your child’s sleep habits. If the jerking is repetitive rather than just 1-2 quick movements or if it happens throughout the night, you should check with your GP.

Why does my child snore and gasp for breath at night?

Snoring can be caused by a cold or a blocked nose. It’ll usually stop when the illness has gone.

Snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea. See your GP if:

the snoring doesn’t go away and happens most nights, even when your child is well
your child stops breathing during sleep or gasps and struggles for breath overnight.

Read more about obstructive sleep apnoea.

Why does my child toss and turn all night?

Moving during sleep is common. If your child rolls over or has brief periods of restlessness during the night, it’s usually nothing to worry about.

Occasionally, tossing and turning can be a sign of sleep apnoea, restless sleep disorder or restless legs syndrome. If you’re concerned about your child’s restless sleep, visit your GP.

Should I be worried about my preschooler’s teeth-grinding?

You probably don’t need to worry. Many young children grind their teeth. It might help to know that it probably won’t wake your preschooler or cause damage to their teeth.

What should I do if my preschooler has a night terror?

Stay calm and avoid waking or touching your child unless they’re at risk of hurting themselves. Night terrors don’t harm your child, and your child won’t remember them in the morning.

Night terrors are most common in children aged 2-4 years.

What should I do when my preschooler has a nightmare?

Explain that it was a bad dream. Let your child know that everything is OK and they’re safe. A kiss and a cuddle might help your child settle again. Avoid dismissing your preschooler’s fear, because nightmares can seem real to children.

Occasional nightmares are common in children of all ages. If your child is having recurrent or frequent nightmares and also has a lot of anxiety during the day or has been through a traumatic event, it can be a good idea to seek professional advice.

What should I do if my preschooler sleepwalks?

Guide your preschooler back to bed in a soothing way. Avoid waking them in case they get upset. It might also take them a while to settle back to sleep if they wake.

Sleepwalking is quite common in children aged 4-12 years.

Should I be concerned if my preschooler still wets the bed?

You probably don’t need to be concerned about bedwetting at 3-5 years. It’s common at this age, even if children are toilet trained during the day. For example, at 5 years old, 1 in 5 children still wets overnight.

These tips might help:

Use night-time nappies or pull-ups for older children.
Use a night-light and put a potty in your child’s room in the night.
Let your child know that you’ll help if they need it.
Be patient. Most children grow out of night-time wetting by themselves.

Help for preschooler sleep concerns

Children’s sleep problems are one of the most common reasons that parents seek help from professionals.

Your child’s sleep problems will be much easier to manage with the support of a trusted child health professional like a child and family health nurse, GP, paediatrician or psychologist specialising in child sleep.