How long should my kids be sleeping?

Question

I have 4 yr old, 2 yr old, and 4 month old boys. But my question is about the two older ones.

My 4 yr old is usually in bed by 8:00 or 8:30-sometimes an hour later since it summer. I try to get my 2 yr old in bed around the same time but he doesnt get to sleep until 10:00 [even though he is lying in bed]. On most mornings they are both up between 7:30 and 8:30.

Their nap in the day is after lunch from about 2:00 to 3:30 or 4:30 [depending on what we are doing that day and if their dad is home, as he travels alot].

Ever since they were born I've been concerned about this. It makes me nervous that they aren't sleeping enough or sleeping too much. And my little one is alright because he just falls asleep when he's tired. The other ones get grumpy and I have to work with them to get them asleep, etc.

Answer 1

Your kids seem to be going to sleep around the right times, as most 2 year and four year olds should. They should go to bed between 8:00 and 8:30. Theyare getting the right amount of sleep and a nap is just what a kid needs if they've been playing out, or running around etc.

If you are worried about your child laying in bed, not going to sleep you could get both of your children in the same room, or in their own rooms and put on a childrens film , which will make them relaxed. This will then put them to sleep quicker and easier. They may be grumpy because their dad travels alot and is not at home - After all we all need a father figure at home. This shouldn't be a problem when they get older though. (Few Years)

Hope this helps you Ma'am.

Answer 2

Cut out the naps...they sound like they don't need them anymore.  A 4 year old needs 10-12 hours depending on the child and a 2 year old needs around 11-13 hours. Both my kids stopped napping before the age of 2, went to bed at 8:30 and woke up around 8:30 the next morning.

Answer 3

Their sleeping sounds perfect to me, children will sleep when they are tired and wont when they are not tired, they aren't sick in anyway so I wouldn't worry at all

Answer 4

13hours on average

Answer 5

Its sounds about the right amount of sleep , I wouls just make sure they get a full 8 hours sleep at night and one hour nap is about the right amount and remember no surgar before eigther cause it will make them restless while they are sleeping to them , it would be like if they didn't ,

Answer 6

Kids are great.  They have not been exposed to the norms of society.  Their bodies tell them what they need to eat, how much to eat, and how much sleep to get.  As they get older we as parents can observe their behavior and when they get cranky early in the evening we can tell them to go to bed.  If they are waking up too early in the morning we might try to keep them up a little later at night.

When my daughter was little she got cranky when she was tired.  I started a little nap/bed time routine that included me holding her and as she got older she stood on her bed while we slow danced.  I sang a little tune helping her lay down when her muscles relaxed...I rubbed her back until she was asleep.  Even now as a teen sometimes when she is upset about something it is comforting to her.

Answer 7

All children require a diffrent amount of sleep, just like adults. I would guess if they are grumpy and tierd however they need more sleep though

Answer 8

11 hrs.

Answer 9

It depends on the child. Some need more sleep then others. I have a 4 year old and a 3 year old. They both get between 9 and 11 hours sleep per night, and have no day sleep. They haven't had a day sleep since turning 2. They just wouldn't. I found that the children get grumpy if they went to bed too late, even if they slept in and still had the 11 hours sleep.

I think by 4 and a half though, day sleep for your son should be cut out, as he will be at school next year, and needs to get into routine so that he's not tired

Answer 10

I think a regular routine of as much as they can get, as this attitude and routine will run through their lives. I wish my parents had done that  :/ Myspace isn't as cool at midnight.