Children ages 5-10 years were most likely to have a regular bedtime, and children with disability were more likely to complain of being tired (22.0%) than children without disability (6.3%).
Children ages 5-10 years were most likely to have a regular bedtime compared with children in all other other age groups.
Children living in families with incomes at or above 200% of the federal poverty level were most likely to have a regular bedtime.
Children with disability were more likely to complain of being tired during the day than children without disability.
Point estimates and variances were calculated using SAS-callable SUDAAN software to account for the complex sample design of NHIS.
This research suggests that sleep routines and daytime tiredness among U.S. children vary significantly by age, family income, and disability status. Using data from a large, nationally representative survey conducted in 2024, researchers found that children in the 5-10 age range were the most likely to have a regular bedtime compared to younger or older children, and that children from higher-income families (those earning at least twice the federal poverty level) were more likely to have consistent bedtime routines than children from lower-income families. This research also suggests a striking difference in daytime tiredness between children with and without disabilities. More than one in five children with a disability (22.0%) were reported to complain of being tired during the day, compared to fewer than one in fifteen children without a disability (6.3%). This gap highlights that disability may be associated with significant sleep-related challenges that affect children's daytime functioning. These findings matter because regular bedtimes are widely associated with better sleep quality and overall health in children, and the disparities found across income levels and disability status suggest that not all children have equal access to consistent sleep routines. Understanding which groups of children are most affected by irregular sleep schedules or daytime fatigue could help inform public health efforts and support services targeting children's sleep health.
Black L, Ng A, Adjaye-Gbewonyo D. (2026). Sleep Routines and Tiredness Among Children Ages 2-17 Years: United States, 2024.. NCHS data brief. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174647