Phones in bedrooms degrade sleep quality measurably for adults and kids. Blue light, notifications, doom-scrolling, work email all extend wake time and fragment sleep. The rule is easier to enforce in children if adults model it first.
Where to keep phones overnight
Charging dock outside bedroom (hallway, kitchen). Phone-call alarms still work via doorbell or landline. Genuinely urgent calls find ways through (text family with house phone or alternative contact route).
What changes within 2-3 weeks
Faster sleep onset. Fewer overnight wake-ups. Less morning anxiety (no overnight email accumulation). Less mindless scrolling that adds 30-60 min to bedtime. Better presence with partner.
If full removal feels too hard initially: phone outside bedroom from 9pm to 7am, with one exception per week if specific need. Most users find they don't want the exception after a month.