There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to parenting. This is the case because, quite simply, every person (and by extension, every child or baby) is different. We all have different needs and requirements in order to function to the best of our ability on a daily basis.
Though we have our differences, we can all agree on one thing: sleep is very, very important. Those who deal with insomnia know just how true that is.
Kids and bedtimes are a sensitive topic, which explains why so many parents can't stop talking about this chart that suggests bedtimes for kids.
Scroll through to find out why parents feel so strongly about this chart!
Thumbnail Photo: Flickr / Russell Tucker
Sleep is essential for any human, but particularly for young children. It's during sleep that their bodies and minds can rest up and retain the energy they need to grow and thrive properly.
As any mom is well aware, not all kids love to go to sleep exactly when you tell them to. Sometimes, it's quite the battle to get your child to stop watching TV, put down their book, or turn off their music long enough to fall asleep!
So, exactly how many hours a night should a child be sleeping?
Creative Child Magazine shared a chart on their Facebook page listing out suggested bedtimes. The chart has listed bedtimes for kids according to their age, ranging from 2-year-old toddlers to 18-year-old teenagers.
At the time of writing and since the chart was shared on August 4, 2017, it has been shared over 6,400 times and commented on nearly 500 times.
The reactions to the suggested times are mixed, to say the least.
It's important to note that this chart isn't backed by any specific or cited scientific study.
According to the Facebook post, the chart was sourced from Mommy Moment, a parenting blog run by blogger Jody Arsenault.
Jody created and shared the suggested bedtime chart alongside a post with 10 tips to help your child fall asleep.
Many parents disagreed with Jody's suggestions.
One popular comment pointed out that, while this chart might work generally, kids have varying sleeping needs — particularly depending on whether the child naps more or less frequently (or doesn't nap at all) during the day.
Many kids give up midday naps at an earlier age. Others need to nap in order to keep crankiness at bay!
Some people who posted were a bit more harsh in their assessments.
One woman named Christy flat-out called the chart "ridiculous," saying that 11:00 p.m. isn't an appropriate bedtime for anyone, let alone 18-year-old kids.
Another mom named Nichola commented that her 1-year-old babies sleep from 5:30 in the evening until 6:30 the next morning. That means her kids are clocking in at around 11 hours of sleep every night — in addition to "two good naps during the day."
Wow! I sure wish I could sleep that much.
Nichola's comment elicited a lot of surprise and shock from fellow commenters, many of whom said they'd never see their kids if they put them to bed that early.
Another person commented that the earliest times suggested for young kids (from 2-year-olds at 7:00 p.m. to 6-year-olds at 8:00 p.m.) aren't even doable.
Practically speaking, when parents work full time (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or even 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and commute home, they aren't even home until the early evening.
As someone who commutes over an hour to and from work every day, this is exactly the issue I would have with these suggested bedtimes. I'd have to get home and put my kids directly to bed!
In any event, Jody did make sure to point out in her original blog post that "all children are different." She also included the caveat that some parents "may find this guide helpful."
One thing all parents can agree on is the fact that an adequate amount of sleep is very important for kids — no matter how much sleep that might be exactly.
What time do your kids go to bed?
Please SHARE this bedtime chart to find out what your friends and family think of it!
