How much sleep does a 12-year-old need?

A 12-year-old generally needs between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night, although children approaching their teenage years may begin showing a natural preference for later bedtimes. School start times can make it difficult to obtain enough rest, so a planned evening routine remains important. If a 12-year-old must wake at 6:30 a.m., they may need to be asleep between about 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Many will function well with roughly 9.5 to 10 hours. Encourage screens to be turned off at least an hour before bed and keep caffeine out of the afternoon and evening. Persistent tiredness, irritability, falling grades or difficulty waking may indicate insufficient sleep or another sleep concern.