Ask a grown-up how long it is until Christmas and they will talk about days. Ask a child, and the only unit that matters is sleeps — so here it is: … sleeps until Christmas. Every night between now and the big morning is one sleep, and each bedtime that passes takes one off the total.
The maths is friendly: sleeps are the same as the days left (… today), because there is exactly one night per day. The final sleep on the list is a special one — the night of Christmas Eve itself, stockings hung, mince pie out, trying very hard to fall asleep while listening for sleigh bells. After that sleep, it is Christmas morning.
Sleeps make a lovely family ritual. Read the number together at breakfast, cross a sleep off a paper chain each evening, or let the youngest person in the house announce the new total every morning. However you do it, the number above is always right — it updates itself every day, and children are very welcome to check it as often as they like, including before breakfast.
Counting with children? You might also like our free letter from Santa — it is personalised with your child's name, mentions how many sleeps are left, and comes with an official Nice List certificate to print and keep.
More countdowns
Sleeps questions
Are sleeps the same as days?
Yes. There is one night per day, so … sleeps and … days are the same countdown wearing different pyjamas.
Why do children count in sleeps?
Bedtime is something a child can picture and look forward to. A sleep ends with waking up — and the last sleep ends with Christmas.
What is the last sleep before Christmas?
The final entry on the countdown is Christmas Eve night itself — stocking hung, early night, ears open for sleigh bells.
Does the sleeps count change at bedtime or midnight?
Our count follows the calendar and drops at midnight, at the same moment the days count falls.