We were wondering if you could tell us how much sleep our 5- year -old should be getting every night. Thank you for your help.

No one can tell you this except your child. Each child is different--just like big people. You must know some people who need 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night and others who do fine on 5 to 7 hours of sleep.

This does not mean he shouldn't have a bedtime routine. You can establish a bedtime, but give him the option to fall asleep, look at books, or do a quiet project in his room. Also, you may want to insist that he not wake you up until a certain time. (By the way, it works best if he participates in the establishment of a routine that is respectful to everyone in the family.)