How much sleep at 5-6 years?

[MrsFabuloso]

My daughter has never been a big sleeper. But I am a little worried she's not getting enough sleep at the moment. She is 5, soon to be 6 in April.

I try to get them all to bed by no later than 7pm. I usually aim for 6.30 to be in the room, reading stories, we read 3 stories, then lights out.

We can be out of bed anytime from 4.30am, though that is usually DS2 who wakes at that time. If I can get him up and out of bed before he starts to get too loud, DD will sleep until 5.30/6ish. 6.30 is probably the latest she will stay in bed.

My problem now is that she has started big school, so is going 9-3 every day. Today is her 3rd day and she is knackered, which I know is normal for the newbies at school, but she was awake before 5am this morning, meaning she got about 10 hours sleep. I tried to lay with her and get her to go back to sleep, but she just tossed and turned until 5.20am when I got up with her. Is that enough for a child of her age. She is so grumpy and whingy today. I have a feeling she needs more sleep!

[Arimeh]

She probably needs a little more, DS goes to bed at 7.30 - but can sometimes fall asleep at 8 or 8.15 (40 minutes trying to get him to sleep is the norm here) and wakes around 6.

So he gets around 10 hours max (he also wakes up during the night).

[Ginger]

My 5 year old goes to sleep about 8 or 8.30 and gets up at 7am. It sounds like she needs more sleep in the morning. I don't know how you achieve that though!

[RhiChiChi]

My 5 year old goes to sleep about 8 or 8.30 and gets up at 7am. It sounds like she needs more sleep in the morning. I don't know how you achieve that though!

Same as Ginger. DD is not a great sleeper though & tends to come in with us after midnight

[BhoysGirl]

we get around 10 hours a night from DS1 who's 5.5, and also just started school, usually 8pm-ish til 6am. This is what he's done for months, so I kind of figure it's his pattern. The whinginess I'm putting down to a) his nature and b) time at school where he spends 6 or so hours trying to behave as best as he can. He's exhausted when he comes home, but putting him to bed any earlier isn't yet working. I secretly think a child that sleeps from 7-7 is a myth made up by delusional sleep deprived parents although I am willing to concede that they maybe do exist, I just got a very short straw when it comes to children & sleep. It's early days yet with the whole school thing, another 12-13 years or so it will probably all be worked out

[Mildez]

My DD is the same age as your's. She will be 6 in April and just started Kinder this year. She goes to bed at 8pm and is usually asleep by 8.30pm. She sleeps until her older sister wakes her when she is getting ready for school at around 730am. During the school holidays she can sleep until 9am. If she goes to sleep at her own accord and wakes up without been woken she sleeps around 12hours.

[Chocaholic]

My 6 yo goes to bed around 8pm, asleep by 8.30pm. He will wake up at 6am, 6.30am at the latest.

When he started school, I found he was exhausted for the first few weeks, and once he got into the routine of school, he was fine.

[OceanPrincess]

... I secretly think a child that sleeps from 7-7 is a myth made up by delusional sleep deprived parents although I am willing to concede that they maybe do exist, I just got a very short straw when it comes to children & sleep...

Slightly OT - they do exist. My niece, coming up to 5, sleeps 7-7 every night, rarely wakes. Non-kinder days (4 out of 7) she has a nap. Anything from one hour to three. And still goes down at 7, and sleeps til 7.

I kid you not.

ETA - my kids, though genetically made from similar material, do not do this. My big two have only just gone down about 9.30pm after DS1 had a twenty minute nap in the car and DD decided if he wasn't sleeping, she wasn't sleeping either. And they will still be up in the morning at 6.30.

[MrsFabuloso]

You know, if it weren't for all of my stress over sleep since I've had kids, this parenting thing would be SO much bloody easier!!!!!

[Snacks]

Nat really varies with her sleep. Sometimes she is awake until quite late (9ish or *gulp*, later). In bed, but still awake. However the following night she will likely be asleep by 8. She tends to wake about 6:45/7am. And some days she does a catch-up sleep where she will have maybe 11-12 hours in one night (if she doesn't wet the bed, that is :/).
I think Lil's probably just really tired from the new routine. Nat went through it too, and last week was the same again. She was really tired, regardless of how much sleep she was getting. 10 hours sounds reasonable to me (if it's solid & not broken), with a longer night here and there to catch up. Hope she is enjoying school

[No.5]

DS sleeps about 9 hours a night.

He still wakes up most nights and comes into our bed.

[Snacks]

The whole 5 days per week of school thing is freaking relentless. She probably gives you & the boys a bit of trouble because she feels safe to do so. Hopefully things settle down soon. x

[Beach Mama]

5 and 9 months and 4 and 4 mths. Over summer was around 8:30 up at 7 ish, now that school/kinder are back they are in bed at 7:30 asleep by 8 and up anywhere from 6:30-8, 7 is average though.

[MrsFabuloso]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It seems 9 1/2-10 hours must be enough for her because she has continued to go to bed and wake at those times. I guess she's just like her daddy and doesn't need so much sleep.

I have started giving her a shower/bath first thing when she gets home from school to give her a little bit of time out and a rest before getting involved with everyone else in the house, other wise all I do is reprimand her for speaking rudely to me (and everyone), teasing her brothers and just having a terrible attitude in general! I have also trialled dinner at 4.30 rather than 5/5.30 for the kids too, because they are so hungry at that time, but if they have a decent snack then, they don't eat dinner! Aaaggh the dilemmas! (LOL, I am very happy to say that this one of my biggest dilemmas of the day, and it's nothing more than that. How lucky am I? No...seriously!!)

Tonight and tomorrow I am trying a little bit later bed time (7.30 instead of 6.30/7) to see if it helps her sleep a little later in the morning. I would love it if they all woke at 6am rather than 4.30/5!!

[Snacks]

Good idea re the shower! I couldn't believe the other day I had to ask my 6yo daughter to please refrain from rolling her eyes at me, lol. She is knackered & school definitely gets the best of her. I know how you feel re the afternoon attitude.
I am all for early dinner times too. Good luck. Bear in mind, the late bedtime may not result in later waking times the morning after - after a late one mine tend to sleep in 2 days later