Right Amount of Sleep for a 7 Year Old?

My 9 year old son just started going to bed at 9:30. The last couple years have been 9. There really is no set in stone time. I guage his time by how he gets up in the morning. During the summer and baseball season, we will move his bedtime up, especially if he has a baseball game, or if he looks super tired. But, both my kids are sleepers. My two year old didn't want to get out of bed this morning...haha. People think I am kidding when I tell them that my kids sleep in until 9 or 9:30 on the weekends...haha

It is really up to you to use your mom guage. I put my kids to bed early in the summer and later in the winter. Just watch them. They will tell you what the right bedtime is.

Everyone's body chemistry is different so each one of us requires different amounts of sleep. My suggestion is to pick out three days of the week, like a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, and put your child to bed at the "normal" time. Let her sleep until she wakes up. You can adjust her schedule then by the the needs she is displaying by averaging out the difference. If she goes to bed at 8:30 and gets up at around 7 two days and at 9 one then you have your answer. Remember as well that more fresh air will cause you to sleep better, so if she has been outside playing more one day than the other she will probably sleep later.

8pm seems like a reasonable bedtime. Time enough to eat dinner at 6ish, sometime to play/do homework then bed time.

The most important part is having the same bedtime every night. Our 10 yo requires more sleep on the nights she is here than our 6yo b.c our 6yo goes to bed at 8 and tv off at 8:30 EVERY night. Our 10yo is allowed to stay up till 9 or 9:30 two nights a week with her mom and then gets up at 5:30a. So by the time she gets home from school she is tired and cranky and by 8pm I can't take anymore lol If your little one gets up every morning for school without a problem or wakes up on thier own, a later bedtime by 15-30 min should be fine. Medically an active 10yo should get 10 hours of sleep a night. Hope that helps!

Abbie is SIX and sleeps normally 9-9.5. Each child is different. I remember that I had one sister that seemed to need WAY more sleep than I did. I have a co-worker that says she requires at least 8.5-9 hours and she's 30. If she rests well and functions well, don't be overly concerned about the "numbers". Hydration, activity, immune system, etc. all are factors in this.

Hi T.! Funny thing, this parenthood, there are no set standards. Your child will actually let you know if he/she needs less sleep. If you incorporate a consistant bedtime and they wake up earlier without an alarm, the need for sleep has lessened. Then a later bedtime might be on the books (unless you like to get up earlier and earlier). If your child is the one requesting a later bedtime, consider moving it for the summertime to try it out, but only if they have the luxury of sleeping in. Kids want to do what their friends are doing and if the friend's parents are real lenient, you will have to be firm. YOU know what is best for your child, do not be swayed. Good Luck! C.