Bedtimes by age
What time should a 5-year-old go to bed?
A 5-year-old should go to bed between 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Five-year-olds need about 10–13 hours of sleep, so for a 7:00 AM wake-up, target a bedtime around 8:00 PM.
Most 5-year-olds have dropped their daytime nap, so night sleep needs to cover the full 10–11 hours their body requires. Set bedtime by counting back 11 hours from wake-up: a 6:30 AM start means a 7:30 PM bedtime, while a 7:30 AM start allows 8:30 PM. Keep weekends within about an hour of weekdays to protect the body clock.
Starting school can make 5-year-olds more tired, so watch for an earlier need for bed during busy weeks. A short, consistent wind-down — bath, pajamas, one or two stories, lights out — helps a 5-year-old settle even on days that ran long. If mornings are a struggle to wake, that's a sign bedtime should move 15–30 minutes earlier.
Make bedtime magical — lullastar writes a new personalized story starring your child every night.