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Kids and even teens often need more than the 'average' 8 hours of sleep. Babies sleep up to 15 hours a day...there isn't a time when they suddenly only need 8 hours. A 4 year old would require 10-12 hours. To deny a child sleep is abuse, IMO. Heck, my kids are teens and 9-10 hours of sleep is still best for them. If they get less for more than a few days it really takes a toll on them, they report not being able to focus in school, their attitudes start to flare up...they just aren't good on less sleep. Child Sleep: Recommended Hours For Every Age
OP, you have the advantage of being able to discuss with your son ahead of time the new bedtime routine you plan to implement. I'd have the conversation well before bedtime and be prepared to be consistent even if he resists. The harder part may be getting your parents on board with the new routine....that will be key to long term success, IMO.
Whoever said 10 hours is too much is way off base. My 5 year old goes to bed at 9pm (half day afternoon pre-k) and gets up around 8am, so usually about 11 hours. The almost 2 year old goes to bed at 8pm and usually sleeps until 8am, so about 12 hours. The baby (7 months) goes to bed at 8pm and usually sleeps until 8am, has something to eat and then takes a 1 or 2 hour nap, so about 14 hours. The younger two also nap for about 2 hours during the day.
This is within the recommended guidelines and I can assure you that if they consistently get less sleep for a couple days the behavior gets steadily worse. My wife and I function well on 6-8 hours, but the kids need their sleep.
And by the way, too... my kids are 10 and 15 now and good sleepers. I stopped laying down with them to tuck them in at around the age of 5 or 6. I remember because it was around Kindergarten age. We have a whole bedtime routine that we still stick with to this day... PJ's, brush teeth, reading to each other, then we turn on the moon and lights out. Our 10 year old still goes to bed at 7:30, our 15 year old tries to go to bed by 9:30 or 10 but with work and homework sometimes that isn't an option for him. Both our kids get up at 6:30pm.
I think if kids are less physically active during the day they might get by with less sleep at night. Our kids are involved in a lot of swimming and outdoorsy activities so they definitely need their sleep, and they both sleep very soundly and very well.
Well, no trouble tonight! He was fast asleep by himself by 8:40ish! Yes, I agree with you haggardhouseelf, that the less active they are, they just might get by on shorter hours. My son plays sports, just finished t-ball 2 weeks ago and is starting swimming lessons next week. I keep him active, therefore I know he surely needs 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a night owl like myself. I really want to to be healthy in every way possible, which includes a sufficient amount of sleep
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Sorry.
