Kids' Bedtime Calculator

Pick an age band and the time your child has to be up. We'll show the bedtime window that hits the recommended sleep total for that age.

6:45 PM – 9:45 PM

Recommended bedtime window for a child aged 6–12 years, who needs 9–12 hours of sleep in 24 hours (No nap). Times allow 15 minutes to fall asleep; subtract nap time from the overnight total for younger children.

How much sleep kids need by age

AgeTotal sleep / 24hDaytime naps
4–11 months12–15 hours2–3 naps
1–2 years11–14 hours1–2 naps
3–5 years10–13 hours0–1 nap
6–12 years9–12 hoursNo nap
13–18 years8–10 hoursNo nap

If bedtime is right and mornings are still a fight, look at the bed itself — our kids' mattress picks and pillow reviews cover the sizes and firmness levels that suit growing sleepers.

FAQs

Guide

Using the kids sleep calculator well

What the result is based on

The calculator works backward from wake-up time using age-based sleep ranges published by paediatric organisations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Ranges are broad on purpose: healthy children vary, and naps change how much night sleep a young child needs.

Turning a bedtime into a routine

  • Start the wind-down 20–30 minutes before the target bedtime: bath, pyjamas, teeth, a book.
  • Keep the bedtime consistent on weekends where possible; big shifts behave like mild jet lag.
  • Adjust in 10–15 minute steps over several nights rather than all at once.
  • Keep the room dark, cool and quiet, and screens out of the bedroom.

When to talk to a professional

Loud snoring, pauses in breathing, frequent night waking that doesn't settle, or daytime sleepiness despite enough time in bed are worth raising with your child's doctor. Calculators give general estimates from the numbers you enter. They are planning aids, not medical advice, and they cannot account for health conditions, medications or individual differences.

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