Can audiobooks help my preschooler sleep?

Preschoolers are so much fun. Their imaginations are developing and they’re learning to play cooperatively and express their unique personalities. What’s not so fun is the bedtime struggles that can be common in this age group. From to , preschoolers often face sleep challenges. 

One potential way to improve preschooler sleep is listening to audiobooks. Many families use audiobooks as part of a or to help lull their kiddos to sleep. In this article, we’ll review some of the common struggles preschoolers face when it comes to sleep, explore the benefits of audiobooks, and provide advice on how to use audiobooks at bedtime. 

IN THIS ARTICLE: 

Understanding preschooler sleep patterns

Preschoolers can have varying sleep patterns at ages 3 and 4. While it’s common for kids to stop napping during preschool years, some still nap and others don’t. The American Academy of Pediatrics [] recommends that kids ages 3 - 5 get around 10 - 13 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. If they’re still napping, that daytime sleep can be factored into their total sleep. If not, ideally they’re getting 11 - 12 hours of sleep at night. (If your child is doing a daytime rest period instead of a nap, that time doesn’t factor into their total sleep unless they end up falling asleep.) 

Keep in mind that kids naturally have varying sleep needs. While general sleep totals provide helpful guidelines, every child is unique — some may need more sleep, while others thrive with less, and both are perfectly normal. Instead of focusing solely on the numbers, pay attention to your child’s mood and behavior throughout the day. Signs of being well-rested include good energy levels, the ability to handle challenges without becoming overly upset, and staying engaged during activities. If your child seems happy and alert, they're likely getting the rest they need, even if their sleep totals don’t match the guidelines exactly.

Understanding your child’s unique sleep needs can also help you navigate common sleep challenges they may face as they grow. Preschoolers, for example, can face a variety of sleep challenges, including , night terrors, sleepwalking, bedwetting, and other sleep disturbances. They might also struggle with sleep when facing big changes such as starting preschool, welcoming a new sibling, transitioning out of a toddler bed, or dropping their final nap. 

Some preschoolers have trouble falling asleep at night, which can be due to a variety of causes, including: 

• Not having a consistent bedtime routine

• Bedtime misalignment (i.e. not in sync with circadian rhythm)

• Stalling at bedtime, possibly due to or not wanting to miss out on time with caregivers

• Daytime sleep means they aren’t tired at bedtime or bedtime is pushed very late 

• Not wanting to fall asleep alone or wanting a parent to stay in the room until they fall asleep

Preschoolers might also have trouble staying asleep due to nightmares, hunger, or less common medical conditions like sleep apnea []. 

Benefits of audiobooks for preschooler sleep

Audiobooks can be soothing to children

Stories, whether from audiobooks or not, can be calming and can help kids fall asleep. Listening to a narrative story can be soothing for children and may reduce anxiety in preschool-aged children []. Calming stories can also help distract preschoolers from worries or upsetting thoughts, which can help lull them to sleep.

Audiobooks can help create a bedtime routine 

Having a consistent can help prevent bedtime struggles [].  For many families, reading stories is part of this routine. Listening to stories can also help kids contextualize and make sense of the world around them as they relax their minds for sleep. As part of a bedtime routine, you might read together with your child and then let them listen to an audiobook as they drift off to sleep. 

The role of audiobooks and sleep stories in sleep

Some kids struggle with staying in bed and falling asleep alone at bedtime due to a variety of reasons. Audiobooks can be a great way to help them drift off to sleep once you leave the room and turn off the lights. Being able to focus on a story can be particularly helpful for little ones who have trouble when the lights are turned off.

When choosing audiobooks for sleep, consider stories that are calm or even a bit boring. This way, their mind won’t get too stimulated and excited listening to the story. You could even play stories they already know. The repetition and familiarity might help lull them into sleep. They likely won’t try to stay awake to hear what happens next in the story because they’ve heard it before. 

You can also choose specific stories that are designed for sleep. For example, has written a few audiobooks designed specifically for sleep. You can check out different apps that have sleep audiobooks. If you have a library card, many libraries also participate in Libby, which allows you to download audiobooks for free, many of which are designed for sleep. 

Potential drawbacks of audiobooks for preschooler sleep

Anything that exposes your child to reading and stories is a good thing. However, there can be some drawbacks to audiobooks for sleep. 

Blue light from devices 

For instance, if you are using a device with blue light [](such as a phone or tablet) to play the audio it can affect melatonin production, making it more difficult for your child to fall asleep. If you’re playing an audiobook from a phone, tablet, or other device with a screen, consider turning the device upside down or covering it to mask the light. 

Reduced engagement time 

Audiobooks can be great for helping your child fall asleep or for busy moments, but they don’t replace the unique benefits of reading together. Sharing a book strengthens your bond, encourages interaction, and fosters a love of reading. For the pre-sleep part of your child’s bedtime routine, we recommend sticking with reading aloud—it’s a special time that supports both connection and development.

Becoming dependent on audiobooks 

If your child becomes dependent on audiobooks for sleep, they may need to play them when they wake at night in order to fall back to sleep. Here are some tips you can try if your kiddo’s reliance on audiobooks becomes an issue during the night: 

• Set limits gradually: Start by reducing the amount of time the audiobook plays each night. For example, if it plays for an hour now, try 45 minutes for a week, then 30 minutes, and so on.

• Use a timer: Set a timer to turn off the audiobook after a certain period, so they aren’t reliant on it to stay asleep all night.

• Replace with soothing sounds: Transition to white noise or gentle, nature sounds, which can be less stimulating and easier to phase out over time.

• Establish a calming bedtime routine: Incorporate other soothing activities, like reading a short story together, cuddling, or a quiet bedtime chat, to shift their focus to other comforting routines.

• Encourage self-soothing: Gradually teach self-soothing techniques, such as cuddling a favorite stuffed animal or practicing deep breathing to help them relax.

• Limit audiobook use to daytime: Encourage audiobook listening during the day or early evening rather than right at bedtime. This can help prevent dependence on it for falling asleep.

Incorporating audiobooks into bedtime routine

To create a calming bedtime environment conducive to listening to audiobooks, it can be helpful to purchase a device that allows your child to choose and play the stories on their own, preferably one without a screen. They might even want to listen with headphones on before bed. This can be particularly helpful if there is noise in your home that might disrupt their calm environment. 

Alternatively, you can also play audiobooks from a device with a screen via a Bluetooth speaker or with the screen covered to avoid exposing your child to blue light close to bedtime. 

Other ways to create a include dimming the lights before bed and keeping the temperature cool.

Takeaway

• Preschoolers often face sleep challenges, but incorporating audiobooks into their bedtime routine can be a helpful tool. 

• Audiobooks can soothe busy minds, provide comfort, and complement a consistent bedtime schedule. However, they work best when used thoughtfully—balancing their benefits with maintaining the bonding time and engagement that comes from reading together. 

• By addressing potential drawbacks like blue light or reliance on audiobooks, parents can create a calming bedtime environment that supports healthy sleep habits and fosters a love of stories.