How Much Sleep Do Children Need?

According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep plays a vital role in your child's health and development. Sleep, combined with nutrition, allows your child's brain to develop. Children who regularly get a sufficient amount of sleep have increased attention, memory, and overall mental and physical health. 

Recommendations for Total Daily Sleep Needs by Age 
(includes both at night and nap time):

• Newborn (0-3 months) = 14-17 hours
• Infant (4-11 months old) = 12-15 hours
• Toddler (1-2 years old) = 11-14 hours
• Preschool (3-5 years old) = 10-13 hours
• School-age (6-13 years old) = 9-11 hours

Experts noted that these are general recommendations and that an hour more or less can be suited for some children. Newborns usually do not sleep through the night because of their feeding schedule. Variations in sleep patterns for newborns can occur and do not fundamentally indicate a sleep problem. Usually, babies start to sleep during the night around six months old. If your child is not sleeping through the night at this age, studies have shown that it is not more important than the overall daily hours needed.

If your baby is not getting enough sleep, you should speak to your pediatrician. Pushing back bedtime may help your baby by allowing more sleepiness and may help your baby stay asleep longer. It is also essential to create a routine, that includes sleep hygiene, and ensure a calm and quiet atmosphere for sleep.

It is normal for most kids to take naps, and many children stop napping around five years old. One study shows that 42.5% of children in preschool fall asleep only sometimes or not at all.

If your child is having trouble sleeping and showing signs of continual problems, speak to a pediatrician about it. To help children sleep, make sure to create a bedroom atmosphere that is quiet and comfortable with minimal distractions with no television and electronics. Create a sleep schedule that involves pre-bed routines like bedtime stories and stick to the plan. If you are still experiencing difficulties, make sure your child is using their energy up during the day to help them sleep better during the night.

Reference:  https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need