Recommended Sleep Duration for Five-Year-Old Children

Children who are five years old should sleep 10-13 hours per 24-hour period to promote optimal health and development. 1, 2

Sleep Duration Guidelines by Age

Five-year-old children fall into the preschool age category (3-5 years) which requires 10-13 hours of quality sleep in a 24-hour period, including both nighttime sleep and daytime naps 3, 4
As children transition to school age (6-12 years), the recommended sleep duration shifts slightly to 9-12 hours per night 1, 2
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Canadian Guidelines both support the 10-13 hour recommendation for preschool-aged children 4
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus statement also recommends 10-13 hours of sleep for children 3-5 years of age 2

Sufficient sleep duration is associated with improved health outcomes including better attention, behavior, learning, memory, and emotional regulation 2
Adequate sleep helps reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction 4, 1
Quality sleep promotes better energy regulation with lower energy intake and reduced risk of excessive weight gain 4
Regular sleep patterns with consistent bedtime and wake-up times enhance these benefits 4

Sleeping less than the recommended amount has been linked to lower quality-of-life later in childhood 3
Insufficient sleep increases the risk of attention, behavior, and learning problems 2
Short sleep duration is associated with higher risk of obesity, especially when coupled with late bedtimes 4
A concerning percentage of school-aged children (57.8% of middle schoolers) already experience short sleep duration, highlighting the importance of establishing good sleep habits early 5

Later sleep onset and midpoint are associated with higher nighttime energy intake and lower morning energy intake 4
Both shorter sleep duration and later timing of the last meal of the day have been independently associated with greater adiposity gain in follow-up studies 3
Consistent sleep schedules with regular bedtime and wake-up times are essential components of healthy sleep habits 4, 1

Establish consistent bedtime and wake-up times, even on weekends 4, 1
Create a sleep-conducive environment that is quiet, dark, and comfortable 1
Limit screen time, especially before bedtime 4, 1
Ensure the child engages in adequate physical activity daily 1
Implement a consistent bedtime routine to signal the body that it's time to sleep 4

Inconsistent sleep schedules can disrupt developing circadian rhythms 4
Excessive screen time before bed can interfere with sleep quality and delay sleep onset 1
Late bedtimes combined with early school start times can significantly reduce total sleep duration 5
Sleep interventions have shown only modest improvements in sleep duration (average of 9 minutes per night), highlighting the importance of establishing good habits early rather than trying to correct problems later 6