How to Get Four Year Olds to Sleep

Many parents and caregivers struggle to help small children develop healthy sleep habits. As a child gets older, the need for sleep gradually decreases. While a newborn may sleep up to 18 hours out of each 24-hour period, a 4-year-old may only sleep between 11 and 12 hours each day, according to the University of Arizona. It's important to ensure 4-year-olds get enough sleep for healthy growth and vibrant energy.

Things You'll Need

  • Nightlight (optional)

Instructions

    • 1

      Instill a bedtime for a 4-year-old for between 7 and 9 p.m., according to WebMD. Whether the bedtime is closer to 7 or 9 p.m. depends upon if the 4-year-old naps and what time the child must wake in the morning. For example, a 4-year-old who must wake at 6 a.m. may need to go to bed at 7 p.m., unless he naps in the afternoons. A 4-year-old does't have a set wake-up time in the morning and who naps for two hours every afternoon may benefit from a 9 p.m. bedtime.

    • 2

      Begin a bedtime routine about one hour before you wish to have the child in bed. Include a snack, a bath, brushing teeth, a bedtime story and snuggling to help your child wind down from the day and get ready to sleep.

    • 3

      Dim the bedroom lights and light a nightlight. Tuck your child into bed and talk softly with your child for a few moments to end the day in a special way. If you wish to share bedtime prayers with your child, do this now.

    • 4

      Leave the room after a final kiss and hug.

    • 5

      Be firm with your child if she gets up out of bed instead of going to sleep. Escort her back to bed and tell her to go to sleep. If your child resists sleep, the key to overcoming this behavior is consistency from you. Keep the bedtime routine the same every night and always insist that your child stay in bed and go to sleep.

    • 6

      Give your child a hug if he appears at your bedside in the middle of the night. Calm any fears or bad dreams with soothing words as you tuck him back into his bed.

    • 7

      Wake the child in the morning at the time required for going to school or daycare.

    • 8

      Give your 4-year-old a rest time or naptime during the afternoon. While a child this age may not sleep, you can insist on a rest to help him get through the rest of the day. Many 3-year-old children still nap, but 5-year-olds often forgo naps. This means that sometime between the ages of 3 and 5, children gradually stop napping (naps become shorter over a period of time).

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