Bedtime Calculator
Wondering what time your child should go to bed? Enter their age and morning wake-up time below for a suggested lights-out time, when to start the wind-down, and how long a bedtime story should be — all based on recommended sleep durations by age.
Total sleep figures are the AASM 2016 consensus recommendations (incl. naps), endorsed by the AAP. Bedtimes are derived from age-typical night-sleep needs counted back from wake time. Every child is different — use this as a starting point, not medical advice.
How long should a bedtime story be?
For most children, a bedtime story of about 5–15 minutes works best — long enough to wind down, short enough to stay calm without becoming overstimulating. Toddlers do well with shorter 5–10 minute stories; preschool and school-age children can enjoy 10–20 minutes.
What matters more than exact length is consistency and calm: the same soothing voice, the same routine, every night. A predictable wind-down signals to a child's body that sleep is coming.
How the calculator works
The calculator starts from your child's morning wake-up time and counts backward by the night-time sleep their age group typically needs. Because older children need less night sleep and nap less, each age produces a different suggested bedtime. It then picks a lights-out target in the middle of a healthy range and works out when to begin the wind-down so the story finishes before lights-out. It also shows the AASM total recommended sleep (including naps) for that age, so you can see the research behind it.
Sources & citations
Sleep-duration ranges are based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) consensus recommendations for children, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These figures are widely published guidance, not medical advice — every child is different, and you should follow your pediatrician's advice for your family.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine — recommended sleep durations by age (consensus statement).
- American Academy of Pediatrics — endorsement of childhood sleep-duration recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
What time should a 3-year-old go to bed?
Most 3-year-olds do well with lights-out between about 7:00 and 8:00 PM, depending on their wake time and nap. Use the calculator above with your child's actual wake time for a tailored suggestion.
How much sleep does my child need?
Recommended totals (including naps) are roughly 12–16 hours for babies, 11–14 for toddlers, 10–13 for preschoolers, and 9–12 for school-age children, per AASM guidance.