At 5 Little Monkeys, we're on a mission to help families everywhere experience the transformative power of healthy, restful, and rejuvenating sleep. It's also why we set out to create the best children's mattress on the market! In addition to our kids bed, we strive to be a resource for every aspect of sleep health. During the summer months, with kids out of school and in turn, out of their routine, it can be hard to make sure that kids get the full recommended amount of sleep they need each night – which is why it's so important to maintain a consistent summer sleep schedule.

Why Your Child Needs a Summer Sleep Schedule

Kids need to sleep a lot: preschoolers need at least 10 to 13 hours per night, while older kids and teens require between 9 and 11 hours of shuteye. But during the summer months, there often isn't enough darkness in the day to cover all those hours. This, combined with the fact that the sun sets later than normal, can make it harder for kids to fall asleep early, which can easily throw off their sleep schedule and prevent them from getting the sleep they need.

So what's a parent to do? As with so many other questions in parenting, the answer is routine. While it's tempting to let your child set their own schedule now that they're free from the pressures of school, it may be a better idea to agree to a set summer sleep schedule – even if it means going to bed before sundown. Sleep is just as important in the summer as it is normally, and allowing your child to stay up too late on summer nights will hurt them in the long run. Having a set schedule with a consistent routine will help your child stick to sleeping the recommended number of hours each night, which is vital for healthy growth and development.

Contact Your Children's Bed Experts

A summer sleep schedule is a necessary evil for maintaining healthy sleep patterns as the days get long, but remember that your child's sleep schedule is only as good as your child's mattress. Interested in an upgrade? The 5 Little Monkeys Bed is custom-designed to give growing bodies what they need for healthy sleep. Try it risk-free for the first 100 nights and experience the difference that truly restful sleep can make!