Study Shows Why a Consistent Bedtime for Baby Is So Important

Schedules are unpredictable, and getting little ones to bed can be anything but easy, but a new study shows that making bedtime consistent can reap big benefits.

The research, published in Sleep Medicine and conducted by researchers at Nanit—the brand behind the parent-favorite Wi-Fi baby monitor—followed 837 babies and toddlers between 4 and 24 months old for two weeks. Families participated from home using their baby monitors, which not only recorded when baby was put down but also when they actually went to sleep. Middle-of-the-night sleep disruptions and wake-up times were also tracked alongside parent sleep diaries and surveys.

When all the data was gathered a clear pattern emerged. Babies with greater variability in bedtime slept less overall. What’s more, irregular bedtimes were linked to more difficulties getting baby to sleep and more frequent parent visits during the night. While parents’ ratings of their child’s overall sleep quality didn’t reflect a change with bedtime consistency, shorter sleep duration and tougher bedtimes undoubtedly made a difference.

Researchers pointed out that more hours and better quality sleep for baby can have far-reaching benefits beyond a few more hours of rest for Mom and Dad. Studies consistently link quality sleep to better emotional regulation, learning and physical development. The pattern also aligns with bedtime consistency in adults, where high variability in bedtime can disrupt circadian rhythms, decrease sleep efficiency and lead to fragmented sleep.

“This study supports our hypothesis that low variability in bedtime is associated with better sleep health starting in infancy,” the study authors wrote. “One of the reasons why maintaining regular sleep patterns is critical for sleep health is due to entrainment of the circadian clock, which facilitates ease of sleep initiation and reduces bedtime difficulties.”

While the study didn’t prescribe a specific “bedtime window,” pediatric sleep experts recommend keeping bedtime within a 30-minute range each night. While there’s no surefire way to ensure baby is getting to sleep at the same time each night, avoiding late naps and having a regular bedtime routine can help keep things consistent without spurring a fight.

Looking to set a new bedtime routine for your baby? Try these parent- and expert-approved tips for creating a calming, enjoyable evening ritual you and your little one can look forward to.