How Many Hours of Sleep Does Your 7-8Yr Old Get?

Updated on May 10, 2011
N.T. asks from Macomb, MI
22 answers

Just wondering! My son goes to bed at 9pm, but it is not unusual for us to see him several times before he falls asleep at 10! Then of course he is difficult to wake up in the a.m for school. I don't think he is getting enough sleep, so I'm wondering how much sleep other kids his age are getting!

Nickie

1 mom found this helpful

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A.R.

answers from Dallas on

My 7 yo goes to bed at 8 and reads till 8:30, lights out at 8:30. She typically wakes up at 6:30ish. She is not a good sleeper :)

My 9 yo goes to bed at 8 and reads till 8:30, lights out at 8:30. He wakes up between 7 - 7:15.

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J.R.

answers from Saginaw on

My 8 yr old just this year is allowed to stay up until 8pm on school nights. Last year it was a strick 7:30p so when this school year started we said he could try it but if he was having a hard time getting up then he had to go back to bed at the earlier bedtime. He too also gets up daily at 6:30am every day for school.

You should really nip in the butt the getting up several times before he gets actually to sleep. We had this problem too but it was more around age 4. He's getting away with staying up later by coming repeatedly to get you and he knows it. Put a limit on it by telling him he can come get you once if really needed, other than that he has to stay in bed. The minute his door cracks open the 2nd time to come get you stop him at the door firmly tell him to get back into bed - playtime will resume tomorrow. If he continues to do it - tell him that each time (he's old enough to understand) tell him for each additional time he comes out that's 10 minutes off his bedtime the next night.
I hope this helps

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

The link above is for "how much sleep does your child need.'

I have 2 kids. 8 and 4 years old.
Weekdays:
My 8 year old gets about 10.5 hours sleep.
My 4 year old, gets about 10.5 hours too. Plus he naps everyday for about 2-3 hours. So he gets about 13 hours of sleep daily.
STILL, they could use more sleep. And according to recommended sleep guides for kids.

During Growth-Spurts, my kids sleep more. My son has often slept for 14-16 hours STRAIGHT, when hitting growth-spurts. For example.

On weekends: they get more sleep because they can both sleep in longer.

Lack of sleep, snowballs and causes a domino effect.
ie: if they get lack of sleep for one night, and don't make it up the next day or get adequate sleep, then they are STILL having lack of sleep. Then over-tiredness. Then, the next day again, if they are still getting lack of sleep, then it just dominoes again.

I read a study: per older kids/teens. It said, that lack of sleep/sleep deprivation which Teens often get... often then sometimes, increases use of drugs, in teens. In order to stay up or get to sleep if they cannot sleep. Then, it affects their friends. And friends may also do that too. Drugs, and lack of sleep.
It was in a magazine that I read at a Doctor's office. I forget the title of the Magazine, but it was one in which the Doctor's office, subscribes too. An Internist.
The point was, that sleep deprivation, can cause, a host of problems and substance use.

My Daughter is 8... and she will nap after school when tired. She needs it. I don't force it. But I teach my kids that if they are tired, it is not a 'bad' thing... it means their body needs rest. So if they are tired to say so. They can nap. For my son who is 4, is it just a daily routine that he nap. If not he gets overtired and turns into a fussy ol' Troll. My kids still go to bed just fine, even if they nap.
My kids go to bed, at 8:00pm.

They still need more sleep.
But, practically speaking, with all the night time things and my daughter has evening Karate class etc., it is hard to get them to bed, any earlier.

A child, going to bed at 9:00pm or later, is late.
BUT many kids, do go to bed, at 9:00pm.

The older a child is, the more they can 'fight' falling asleep and 'forcing' themselves to stay up. It does not mean they are 'not' tired... just overtired.

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B.F.

answers from Chicago on

My son gets about 9 to 10 hours. He is 9. He gets up at 8 am. He goes to bed around 9.30, reads till about 10.15. I tried to send him earlier, but it's no use; he won't fall asleep because he just isn't tired. We have a late schedule because my husband works late and school doesn't start till 9. It works out fine for us. I talked to our physician about sleep about 2 years ago (when my son was 7). He felt that 9 -10 hours are fine at that age.

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L.J.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter will be 8 next week, She goes to bed by 8 and is up around 7 or 7:30.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

My son is 7. He goes to bed at 8pm. We have to start reading stories at 7pm for him to actually be asleep by 8pm! He procrastinates. He wants a snack. He has to go to the bathroom. He has to read one story to us. He wants to snuggle. Finally he is settled! He wakes up at 7am...so 11 hours. If we are late in going to bed he really has a hard time getting up.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

((My 8yo son))

10-11 hours on average.

Spring and Fall: 9pm - 8am
Summer 10pm to midnight - 9-10am
Winter 7pm-5am

Growth spurts 12-14 hours (3-4 times a year for a few weeks each go)

We homeschool... so we don't have to worry about waking up at the same time every day. Even in winter when we typically wake up early to go to the mountains... if kiddo hits a growth spurt, he sleeps the extra 2-4 hours.

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

I think I would go for a bit earlier...like 8pm so he is asleep by 9.

A.S.

answers from Spokane on

Our kids go to their rooms at 7 for quit time. They can read or play quietly but if they start getting loud, the lights get turned off early. The lights are normally turned off at 8 but it's not unusual for them to wander in and out until 9 which is about when they fall asleep. Then they're back up again at 6:30 to start getting ready for school. So they usually get about 9.5 hours but they could certainly use more. They're just too energetic to get down earlier. I have certainly tried. The only time they fall asleep earlier than 8 is when they're sick (usually, sometimes they're just super super tired). My kids range from ages 4 to 8 and I've got four of them. The three oldest go to bed at 8 like I said but the youngest wanders around for a bit longer so she won't disturb them. She'll have to get used to their times now though since she'll be going to school this fall.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My 8 yo goes to bed between 9-9:30 and generally wakes up at about 7:30. Days he's really tired--he goes to bed earlier.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

My 9 yr old is in bed by 8 and asleep by 830 otherwise he can't get up in the morning. Your son might be heading to bed too late when they are over tired it's harder to fall asleep, also make sure he gets enough physical activity during the day. The two nights my son has soccer practice he's passed out by 730.

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

Our 8 yo gets 10-10 1/2 hours sleep every night. He goes to bed at 8:00 and goes to sleep around 8:30. His alarm goes off at 6:45. He is a huge grouch when he doesn't get enough sleep and his attention span is horrible when he is tired. The recommended amount of time for this age is 10-11 hours.

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N.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Sounds like our house! My kids are 7 (almost 8) and 9 years old. They get about 9 hours sleep (if we're lucky) on school nights, more on weekends. I've tried to have an earlier bedtime, but it seems they inherited the night owl gene from me.

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K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My 7 y/o
8:30 to 6:30 so is about 10 hrs
on weekends , 10:30 to wherever she wants but usually she's up at 8:00

A.S.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter goes to bed between 8 & 9. I usually wake her up around 6:15ish in the morning. Never a problem for her to get up. I would say she usually doesn't fall asleep until around 10.

Now... That being said, she was just diagnosed ADHD w/Acute Anxiety. She's never required the sleep that most kids do. Even as an infant and toddler.

She'll be 8 next month.

M.M.

answers from Tucson on

My 7 yr old gets about 9-10 hours of sleep.

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V.M.

answers from Erie on

My kids are asleep by 8/8:15 as a general rule. I try to have lights out by 7:30 but to have that happen we would need to start bedtime routine at 6:30.

I have a 6 yo and an almost 8 yo. We go upfor bed at 7 and get pj's brush teeth, set out clothes for tomorrow and tidy up a smidge and then stories as long as time allows, then youngest gets about 5 mins alone time with lights out with either mom or dad, while the oldest reads to himself, then he gets closer to 3 mins for goodnight conversation. Usually the youngest needs, water, wants her blankets fixed, heard a noise, needs an extra kiss, but because we start early by 8 she is finished with her screwing around and is asleep. Then they wake by 7 to get ready for school.

I'm thinking my daugher and perhapsyour son are actually a bit over tired and her screwing around asking for a million things is because we missed her sleepy window and she really should have had lights out closer to 7:30 than 8, but we do the best we can.

Since you asked, i do think that time is too late for your son, and that the bedtime routine really starts after dinner with calm activities and dim light and kids need some time to slow down and turn off, before they jump into bed. I personally, don't even like the kids watching TV or movies in the evening. Reality is that we allow them to watch America's funniest home videos most sunday nights, which shortens our bedtime routine and pushes bedtime much closer to 8:15 than i would like, but again we do our best to balance, and the rest of the week is ealier and calmer. maybe you son would like to listen to books on cd at bedtime to wind down if you aren't able to read to him. oh and i've heard it suggested to move bedtime back in 15 min incriments every week until you get where you want it to be.

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

My 7 yr old goes to bed at 8p, asleep by 9p and awake by 7-7:30am...so 10-10 1/2 hours during the school week...a little less on the weekend.

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M.A.

answers from Orlando on

Goes to bed at 8:30 gets up at 7:30. She is 7.

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

About 10 hours a night. 9:30 to 7:30.

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G.S.

answers from New York on

It's 11:15 & my 7 yr old daughter is still stalling, but they are just finishing up their spring break & my husband just switched his shift at work tonight so I'm letting it slide. She is usually asleep by 10 the latest and sleeps till 7:30 so she normally gets about 9 1/2 hrs sleep each night. On weekends she could easily sleep 12 hrs if I let her though.

J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Mine goes to bed at 8:30pm Sun-Thurs and wakes up anywhere between 6:30-7am. Approx 10 hours.

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