Sleep hygiene is the set of habits and conditions that support healthy, consistent sleep — such as a regular bedtime routine and a dark, calm sleep environment.
Sleep hygiene refers to the everyday habits and environmental conditions that help promote healthy sleep. It covers both routine — when and how someone prepares for sleep — and environment, meaning the space in which they sleep.
What does good sleep hygiene look like?
Common elements include consistent sleep and wake times, a predictable wind-down routine before bed, a dark, quiet and comfortably cool sleep space, and limiting stimulating or bright-screen activity in the period before sleep. Together these support the body clock and make it easier to fall and stay asleep.
How does it differ for babies?
For infants and young children, sleep hygiene is shaped by the caregiver and tends to focus on a calm, consistent bedtime routine, an appropriate sleep environment, and age-appropriate timing of naps and bedtime. The principles are similar to those for adults, adapted to a child's developmental stage and sleep needs.
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