diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index cbaedd5b3..7e23f5cfd 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -1728,26 +1728,51 @@ void MleRouter::HandleTimeTick(void)
             router.SetSelectableAsParent(false);
         }
 #endif
-
-        if (router.IsStateValid() && (age >= kMaxNeighborAge))
+        if (router.IsStateValid())
         {
-            // Once router age expires, we send Link Request every
-            // time tick (second), up to max attempts. Each rx is
-            // randomly delayed (one second window). After the last
-            // attempt, we wait for the "Link Accept" timeout
-            // (~3 seconds), before the router is removed.
+            // Neighbor router age and link recovery
+            //
+            // If the device is an FTD child and has more than
+            // `mChildRouterLinks` neighbors, it uses a longer age,
+            // `kMaxNeighborAgeOnChild`, and removes the neighboring
+            // router upon expiration without trying to re-establish
+            // its link with it.
+            //
+            // Otherwise, if the device itself is a router, or it is an
+            // FTD child with `mChildRouterLinks` or fewer neighbors,
+            // it uses a shorter `kMaxNeighborAge`. Upon expiration, it
+            // tries to re-establish its link with the neighboring router.
 
-            if (!mDelayedSender.HasAnyScheduledLinkRequest(router) && !router.IsWaitingForLinkAccept())
+            if (IsChild() && (mRouterTable.GetNeighborCount(kLinkQuality1) > mChildRouterLinks))
             {
-                LogInfo("No Adv from router 0x%04x - sending Link Request", router.GetRloc16());
-                router.SetLinkRequestAttemptsToMax();
+                if (age >= kMaxNeighborAgeOnChild)
+                {
+                    LogInfo("No Adv from router 0x%04x - removing router", router.GetRloc16());
+                    mDelayedSender.RemoveScheduledLinkRequest(router);
+                    RemoveNeighbor(router);
+                    continue;
+                }
             }
-
-            if (router.HasRemainingLinkRequestAttempts())
+            else if (age >= kMaxNeighborAge)
             {
-                router.DecrementLinkRequestAttempts();
-                mDelayedSender.ScheduleLinkRequest(
-                    router, Random::NonCrypto::GetUint32InRange(0, kMaxLinkRequestDelayOnRouter));
+                // We send a Link Request every time tick (second), up to
+                // max attempts. Each transmission is randomly delayed
+                // (one-second window). After the last attempt, we wait for
+                // the "Link Accept" timeout (~3 seconds) before removing the
+                // neighboring router.
+
+                if (!mDelayedSender.HasAnyScheduledLinkRequest(router) && !router.IsWaitingForLinkAccept())
+                {
+                    LogInfo("No Adv from router 0x%04x - sending Link Request", router.GetRloc16());
+                    router.SetLinkRequestAttemptsToMax();
+                }
+
+                if (router.HasRemainingLinkRequestAttempts())
+                {
+                    router.DecrementLinkRequestAttempts();
+                    mDelayedSender.ScheduleLinkRequest(
+                        router, Random::NonCrypto::GetUint32InRange(0, kMaxLinkRequestDelayOnRouter));
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
index 42da00cf4..a9e8ccd37 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
@@ -503,7 +503,8 @@ private:
 #endif
 
     static constexpr uint32_t kMaxUnicastAdvertisementDelay  = 1000;   // Max random delay for unciast Adv tx
-    static constexpr uint32_t kMaxNeighborAge                = 100000; // Max neighbor age (in msec)
+    static constexpr uint32_t kMaxNeighborAge                = 100000; // Max neighbor age on router (in msec)
+    static constexpr uint32_t kMaxNeighborAgeOnChild         = 150000; // Max neighbor age on FTD child (in msec)
     static constexpr uint32_t kMaxLeaderToRouterTimeout      = 90000;  // (in msec)
     static constexpr uint8_t  kMinDowngradeNeighbors         = 7;
     static constexpr uint8_t  kNetworkIdTimeout              = 120; // (in sec)