How Much Should My Child be Sleeping?

Sleep is critical for your child's health and well-being. In fact, good sleeping habits begin at birth. Children who do not get enough sleep may struggle during the day. They may have difficulty sleeping at night. How much should your child be sleeping?

Every child is unique. Some babies sleep a lot, while others sleep very little. Below is a general guide to how much sleep children require in a 24-hour period. Including nighttime sleep and daytime naps.

SLEEP GUIDELINES FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS

• 1 week old: 15-18 hours a day

  Newborns typically sleep about 15-18 hours a day. But, only for short periods of 1-2 hours. Premature babies may sleep longer, while colicky babies may sleep less. Because newborns do not yet have an internal biological clock or circadian rhythm, their sleep rhythms are not related to the day and night cycles. In fact, they usually don't have much of a pattern.

• 1-4 months: 14-15 hours a day

  At 6 weeks, your baby will begin to settle down and you may notice more regular sleep patterns. The longest periods of sleep last from four to six hours. These occur more often in the evening. The confusion of day and night ends.

• 4-12 months: 12-15 hours a day

  Although even 15 hours is ideal, most babies under 11 months sleep only about 12 hours. Developing healthy sleep habits is most critical this time. As your baby is now much more social and has more adult sleep patterns. Babies usually take three naps and go to two naps around 6 months (or earlier) when they can sleep through the night. Establishing a regular nap usually occurs at the end of that period, when biological rhythms mature. Naps usually start at 9 a.m. and last about an hour. Early afternoon naps start from noon to 2 p.m. and lasts an hour or two. And in the late afternoon, naps can begin anywhere from 3 p.m. to 5p.m. and vary length.

• 1-3 years: 11-14 hours a day

  As your child moves from the first year of life to 18-21 months, they will likely lose morning and early evening naps and naps just once a day. Although toddlers need up to 12 hours of sleep a day, they usually only get about 10 hours. Most babies between the ages of about 21 and 36 months still need one nap. This can vary from one to three and a half hours. They usually go to bed between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and wakes up between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

• 3-6 years: 10-12 hours a day

  Children of this age usually go to bed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wake up around 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., just like when they were younger. Daytime naps are also gradually getting shorter. New sleep disorders usually do not occur after age 3.

• 6-12 years: 9-12 hours a day

  In these age groups with social, school and family life, sleep times gradually become later. Most 12-year-olds go to bed around 9 p.m. Sleep times are still wide, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. as well as total sleep times of 9-12 hours, although the average is only about 9 hours.

• 12-18 years: 8-10 hours a day

  Sleep needs are just as important to the health and well-being of teenagers as they were when they were younger. It turns out that many teenagers may need more sleep than in previous years. Social pressures, however, make it hard for teens to sleep well and regularly.

  If your child is not getting enough sleep, what can you do?

It is estimated that 25% of young children suffer from sleep problems or excessive daytime sleepiness. These problems can affect older children and teens. Although the nature of sleep problems vary, parents should discuss sleep with their children. Parents should raise this issue with their pediatrician if there are signs of serious or persistent problems, such as insomnia.

A good place to start in helping a child sleep is by creating a calm, quiet, and comfortable bedroom environment. Finding the best mattress for your child's needs and minimizing distractions such as television and electronic devices will help ensure consistent sleep, regardless of age.

Establishing healthy sleep habits, such as a consistent sleep time and bedtime routine, will help children recognize the importance of bedtime. This will reduce nightly variations in sleep time. By expending energy during the day and providing opportunities for relaxation before bedtime, children are more likely to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

For the Love of Sleep

Divya

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