Typical sleep behavior (6) – preschoolers 3 to 5 years

Preschoolers aged between 3 and 5 years usually sleep 10 to 13 hours in a 24-hour period. The number of daytime naps gradually reduces and most children have stopped napping by the time they start school.

Nightmares and night terrors#

Many preschoolers experience nightmares and night terrors. This can make settling to sleep more difficult.

It can also mean your preschooler wakes more often overnight, calls out, or wants to get into bed with you for comfort. Whether this is a concern depends on your own family. By getting to know your preschooler and learning their cues, you can support a positive sleep pattern.

Strategies that can help#

There are several gentle approaches you can try:

• Bedtime fading aims to reduce night waking. It uses your child’s natural tendency to sleep for about the right length of time (called sleep homeostasis) by delaying bedtime by 15 minutes each night to reduce the time your preschooler spends awake in bed.
• Reward charts are tools for encouraging your child’s behavior and may include wall posters or apps. They show a positive behavior or a goal that your preschooler is working toward.
• Moving from a cot to a bed may be the next step if you notice your preschooler trying to climb out of their cot. This usually happens between 2 and 3½ years, but can be as early as 18 months.

Helping your preschooler feel secure#

It is important that your preschooler feels secure and loved. You can do this by responding to them in a warm and positive way.

Positive interactions show your preschooler that they matter and are valued. By understanding and communicating with your preschooler, you will learn their cues as they grow and develop. This helps support positive relationships and sleep patterns.

If you are having difficulties, it can help to track when and how long your preschooler sleeps each day for a week or so. This can give you a clearer idea of what might be going on.

If you have tried these strategies for one to two weeks and you are still concerned about your child’s sleep, talk to your child health nurse or your doctor.

Bedwetting and night waking#

Bedwetting is common in preschoolers, particularly as they stop wearing nappies overnight. It may also cause increased waking overnight.

There are several different causes of bedwetting, including:

• some children produce larger than usual amounts of urine at night and do not wake in time to use the toilet
• some children sleep deeply and do not wake when their bladder is full
• some children have small bladders, so they are more likely to wet the bed at night
• bedwetting often runs in families, so if a parent wet the bed as a child their children may be more likely to as well

Remember, bedwetting is part of your child’s physical and emotional development, and most children stop bedwetting as they get older.

Key points#

• It is important that your preschooler feels secure and loved.
• Positive interactions show your preschooler that they are important and valued.
• Bedwetting is a common issue for preschoolers as they stop wearing nappies overnight.
• Bedwetting may also cause increased waking overnight.

Where to get help#