How much sleep do your kids get every night? Are you sure they are getting enough? Every child is different and you, as their parent, know what they need. However, we found some basic guidelines from experts at The Nemours Foundation. We have the highlights for you below. For more details click here.
The First 6 Months:
Newborns generally sleep or drowse for 16 to 20 hours a day, divided about equally between night and day. How long the sleep depends on how long they can go between feedings. Newborn sleep times vary greatly because their internal clocks are developing.
Around 3 months old, babys start to sleep for longer periods of time. About 90% of babies this age sleep through the night, meaning 6 to 8 hours in a row.
6 to 12 Months:
At 6 months, an infant may nap about 3 hours during the day and sleep about 11 hours at night.
1 to 3 Years:
From ages 1 to 3, most toddlers sleep about 10 to 13 hours. This is when a parent begins to notive signs of tiredness and can work to establish a regular bedtime. Most of the time, a toddler needs a nap and will become cranky and show signs of over tiredness.
Preschoolers:
Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 12 hours per night, but there is no reason to be completely rigid about which 10 to 12 hours they are. Some preschoolers may need naps, while the majority begin to grow out of them about this time.
School-age Children:
A 6-year-old child may need about 11 or 12 hours of sleep. The amount of sleep a child needs decreases as they get older. Generally a 12-year-old needs only 10 hours, but it is up to parents to set sleep times appropriate for their children.
Teenagers:
Most teens need about 8½ to more than 9 hours of sleep each night. Parents may find teens sleep more on the weekends or days they don’t have school or other activities.
