How much sleep do children need?
Most parents won’t be surprised to learn that children have their own sleep needs. These needs change over time – that’s right, what works for a toddler differs dramatically from a teen or an adult, but not so much with a 12-year-old – they both benefit from a full 12 hours.
| Age Group | Recommended Hours of Sleep per Day |
| Newborn: 0-3 months | 14-17 hours |
| Infant: 4-12 months | 12-16 hours per 24 hours |
| Toddler: 1-2 years | 11-14 hours per 24 hours |
| Preschooler: 3-5 years | 10-13 hours per 24 hours |
| School-Aged: 6-12 years | 9-12 hours per 24 hours |
| Teen: 13-18 years | 8-10 hours per 24 hours |
| Adult: 18-60 years | 7 or more hours per night |
| Adult: 61-64 years | 7-9 hours |
| Adult: 65 years and older | 7-8 hours |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017
Tired kids aren’t just grumpy. Children who don’t get enough sleep are at a higher risk for chronic illnesses and obesity.
10 Tips for helping your child get to sleep
- Remove screens. Consider nixing TVs, tablets, laptops and even cell phones from your child’s room.
- Establish a bedtime routine. Having a pattern before bed will help signal to their mind and body that it’s time for bed.
- Cut the calories. Eating too close to bedtime tends to keep kids up, especially if the food or drink contains caffeine or excess sugar.
- Create a sleep environment. Make sure her bedroom is cozy – not too hot or cold for sleeping. Ditto with too many or too few blankets.
- Get wet. Some children may find that taking a bath or shower before bed relaxes them.
- Keep it quiet. It’s easier to sleep when there’s not extra noise. Teens may even want to wear earplugs.
- Check the size. Review with your child whether her bed is the right size or if she might need a larger one because she tends to stretch out while slumbering.
- Don’t use going to bed as a punishment. Your child might get a negative view of sleep. On the flip side, be careful not to use staying up late as a reward.
- Avoid making bedtime a negotiation. Give your child other choices to make, like what type of PJs to wear or what book to read together before bed.
- Make sleep a family priority. Kids learn from example. If sleep is important to you, chances are it will be for them too.
Is it time for a new bed for your child?
By: Terry Cralle, RN, Sleep Expert and Co-Author of Snoozby and the Great Big Bedtime Battle
It’s tough to know when your child might be ready for a new bed – kids grow and mature at different rates, after all.
- If you’re trying to decide whether it’s time for your child to move from a crib to a bed, ask yourself how she deals with boundaries. Does she want to climb out of bed the second you put her in it? Don’t rush it: She’s probably better off in a crib.
- If your child’s been complaining about having a hard time getting comfortable in bed, that’s a sign he needs a bigger mattress. If you started him off in a twin, it could be time to move to a full.
- If the mattress in question is more than seven years old, consider replacing it. It’s likely your child isn’t getting her best night’s sleep anymore, and the need for comfort and support increases with age.
