How Much Sleep Does My Child Need?

14-17 hours a day
Occurs around the clock on an irregular schedule with awake times of 1-3 hours.
Sleep tips:
- Observe baby’s sleep patterns and identify signs of sleepiness.
- Put baby in crib when drowsy but not asleep.
- Encourage nighttime sleep.

12-15 hours a night. Naps vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours, one to four times a day.
By 6 months of age nighttime feedings are not necessary and many infants can sleep through the night. 70-80% do so by 9 months of age.
Sleep tips:
- Develop regular daytime and nighttime schedules.
- Create a consistent and enjoyable bedtime routine.
- Encourage baby to fall asleep independently.

11-14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. When they reach 18 months of age, naps typically decrease to one time a day and last 1-3 hours.
Sleep problems are common and include resisting going to sleep and nighttime awakenings.
Nighttime fears and nightmares are also common.
Sleep tips:
- Maintain a daily sleep schedule.
- Make the sleep environment the same every night and throughout the night.
- Set consistent limits and enforce them. Encourage a security object.

10-13 hours a night and most do not nap after 5 years of age.
Difficulty falling asleep and night awakenings are common.
Sleepwalking and night terrors peak during these years.
Sleep tips:
- Maintain a regular and consistent sleep schedule.
- Create a relaxing bedtime routine that ends in the room where the child sleeps.
- Consistent sleep environment that is quiet and dark.
- No TV in the bedroom.

9-11 hours of sleep.
There are increased demands on the child at this age such as sports, extracurricular activities, and increased interest in TV, computers, and the internet.
Electronics in the bedroom and use near bedtime is associated with bedtime resistance difficulty falling asleep, and anxiety around sleep.
Sleep problems are very common and inadequate sleep can lead to moodiness, behavior problems, and difficulty learning.
Sleep tips:
- Discuss and teach healthy sleep habits.
- Continue to stress the importance of regular and consistent sleep schedules.
- Keep TV, computers and phones out of the bedroom.
- Avoid caffenine.

8-10 hours of sleep.
85% of teens do not get enough sleep.
Teens have irregular sleep schedules across the week. They stay up late and then sleep in on weekends.
Sleep tips:
- Make sleep a priority and help your teen make the necessary changes.
- Short naps can be beneficial.
- Avoid caffenine or exercise too close to bedtime.
- Create a consistent sleep schedule and stick to it, even on the weekends.

How much sleep does my child need? – Sleep Guide