Bedtime is the regular time when someone goes to bed to sleep. For most kids, bedtime might be around 8 or 9 o'clock on school nights, though it varies by family and age. Parents set bedtimes to make sure children get enough rest, since growing bodies and busy brains need plenty of sleep to stay healthy and alert.

Many families have bedtime routines: brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading a story, or saying goodnight. These rituals help signal to your body that sleep is coming. As you get older, bedtime usually gets later, and eventually you'll set your own bedtime based on when you need to wake up.

The word can also describe things associated with going to bed. A bedtime story is one you read or hear right before sleep. People also use bedtime in jokes or teasing, like when someone says “Is it past your bedtime?” to point out that you look tired.