Kids and Sleep: How Many Hours of Sleep Do Infants, Toddlers, and School-Aged Children Need?
Kids and sleep are tricky topics and many questions inevitably arise. How many hours of sleep do children need? How long should my toddler rest? Thanks to studies and recommendations from doctors, there are answers to those questions of how much sleep infants, toddlers, and school-aged children need.
Related: Tips to Help Your Child Who Can’t Sleep
Thanks to a recent study regarding sleep, a joint publication of the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, not getting enough sleep has detrimental effects that include compromising your immune system. The study found that participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 55 years old, who were sleeping less were more likely to get a cold. Nearly 39 percent of those who slept six hours or less succumbed to the cold virus. Conversely, only 18% of those who slept more than six hours got colds.
Sleeping needs vary in specific age groups. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), using the help of panel of experts in various fields including: anatomy, physiology, pediatrics, neurology, gerontology, and gynecology also adjusted the amount of sleep children and adults need in 2015.
Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours each day
Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours
Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours
Preschoolers (3-5): 10-13 hours
School age children (6-13): 9-11 hours
Teenagers (14-17): 8-10 hours
Related: Safe Sleep Practices to Remember for Your New Baby
It’s important to remember that these numbers are guidelines and your parental instinct matters as each child is different. If you have concerns, talk to your family doctor or pediatrician. Both sleeping too much and sleeping too little can be signs of a problem. They aren’t always necessary to worry or stress about, but it’s always good idea to ask your primary physician about sleep patterns that are healthy for you and your family.
My boys have been good sleepers since day one. I got very lucky in that department. They get at least 10-12 hours a night.
I miss my oldest taking naps. She stopped when she turned 2. My 4-year old now takes naps because he goes to school and is always so tired after he gets home. I didn’t realize just how much sleep newborns need.
This is interesting. Both of my daughters slept very differently. Not sure how they fall into this theory though.
That is a great information for new moms.
I’m so glad my son was a great sleeper. Almost from the day he was born. I’ve known some moms who had kids that just didn’t like to sleep. I love to sleep. hehehe
Great article kids need their sleep if not the little ones get really cranky ……my teen sleep less gone are those happy days. Lol…Just kidding .
My daughter is 18 and she says she feels best when she can get about 9-10 hours of sleep at night. I think I feel best with about 7-8.
I think my kids never grew out of the 10-13 hour stage! This is a really useful reference. I think I need more sleep too.
Thanks for sharing this information. We all need this. As a parent, this could be really useful.
This is good to know. At least I have I’m aware if they’re oversleeping or not. Thanks for the list!
Great to know, I love this article. I always noticed that my kids are stay slept every 10 hours and I think it’s normal.
Great to know. it is helpful for us and especially for the new mommies.
This is good to know. At least now I know that my girls are sleeping right. They get about 13 hours of sleep daily.
This is the one thing I feel like such a failure about. My kids exhaust me with refusing to go to bed at night. I come from a long history of night owls, and I remember staying awake all night just laying in my bed bored out of my mind.
Great information to know! My kiddo always wants to stay up late but I tell him to grow you need some sleep.
Sleep is so vital to our health. You have to get enough sleep to be able to be your best. That goes for kids as well. I know my kids are too grumpy if they don’t get enough sleep.