The best bedtime for your child is between 7-7:30 pm. This time is ideal for sleeping as your child's body would have accumulated enough sleep hormones (melatonin) to sleep quickly and peacefully.

Putting your child late to bed will make cortisol (stress hormone) levels rise, and thus, your child will be too hyper to sleep or too cranky and overtired and therefore take much longer to settle and sleep. Going to sleep late and overtired will make your child wake up frequently during the night and earlier in the morning.

The human body has a biological clock, and the circadian rhythms can help us sleep if we honor them by getting to bed at the right time. According to Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine, maintaining a consistent bedtime (and wake time) helps keep our internal clock. It is a critical part of healthy sleep hygiene.

Sleep guidelines by age:

Up to 6 years, your child’s bedtime should be at 7-7:30 pm, however, bedtime becomes later 7:30-8:30 at preteen years (7-12 years), and as they grow up to become teens (12-18 years) bedtime becomes 8-10 pm.

Total sleep hours/24 hrs:

• 1-4 weeks: 15-18 hours
• 1-12 months: 14-15 hours
• 1-3 years: 12-14 hours
• 3-6 years: 10-13 hours
• 7-12 years: 9-11 hours
• 12-18 years: 8-10 hours

It is important to note that in each age range the younger the child the more hours of sleep needed.

Naps stop between 3-4 years but instead quiet time is recommended for the transition to 0 naps to happen smoothly.