{"id":3485,"date":"2019-10-28T19:39:34","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T18:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=3485"},"modified":"2020-06-05T02:51:54","modified_gmt":"2020-06-05T00:51:54","slug":"how-much-sleep-do-kids-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Children’s Sleep: How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sleep, a natural biopsychosocial phenomenon, is a physical necessity. However, the amount of sleep we get is influenced by several factors: the age of the individual, their psychological state, and relevant cultural practices. Because the amount of sleep children need varies in their developmental years, parents can\u2019t help but wonder, <\/span>how much sleep do kids need<\/span>?<\/span><\/p>\n

During their first year, babies usually sleep about 14 hours a day. However, there are substantial individual differences\u2014some babies are fine with 10 hours of sleep a day, while others need 18 hours. What\u2019s more, as they grow and develop, the total amount of sleep children need, and when they need it, will continue to fluctuate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep is essential for brain development and early childhood learning. Parents should strive to follow the <\/span>recommended sleep by age<\/span> for their baby, toddler, or child\u2014as well as for themselves. At the same time, parents should be tolerant of any temporary sleep problems that their child may have. As a rule, knowing the child\u2019s individual needs and respecting them will make it much easier for their child to develop a healthy sleep regimen.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Physiological and Psychological <\/b>Importance of Sleep for Children<\/b><\/h2>\n

As we sleep, our bodies go through several cycles, which are broken down into stages. Throughout early childhood, the duration of one sleep cycle is about 50\u201390 minutes. For a newborn, the <\/span>first sleep stages<\/span>\u2014during which it\u2019s easier to wake up\u2014last about 50% of the time. The duration of these stages will gradually decrease to 25% during adolescence. For a young <\/span>child<\/span>, <\/span>sleep patterns<\/span> that include waking up once or twice are the standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether a baby or a young child\u2019s sleep is \u201cnormal\u201d depends very much on the parents\u2019 expectations and perceptions. Sleep problems are usually caused by waking up at night or by having a difficult time going to bed at night. <\/span>Sleep deprivation<\/span> has dramatic consequences on a child\u2014they will often be irritated and tired throughout the day. And while it\u2019s necessary to ask <\/span>how much sleep do kids need<\/span>, it\u2019s also worth emphasizing the <\/span>importance of sleep<\/span> for the entire family since parents will also feel the consequences of lost sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

As your baby grows and becomes more aware, their sleep schedule will change. They might have certain fears that prevent them from sleeping at night. Initially, your baby will need to be cuddled and soothed. Gradually, the child can learn to fall asleep using a favorite blanket, doll, or toy until they begin to fall asleep alone. A young child\u2019s ability to regulate their sleep patterns and fall asleep again after waking up develops as they mature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional experiences during the day can affect how well <\/span>kids<\/span> are <\/span>sleeping<\/span> at night. When they feel tense, restless, or anxious, it\u2019s likely that a child will wake up more often at night and have trouble falling asleep. It\u2019s also natural for there to be temporary periods of sleep problems as children gain new skills and become more independent and mature.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cultural Practices Related to <\/b>Kids and Sleep<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are different cultural practices associated with how babies and toddlers sleep\u2014from sharing the same bed as their parents to sleeping in a separate room shortly after birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cultural differences also impact the ways they fall asleep. For some cultures, it\u2019s natural for a baby to fall asleep during normal family activities and be brought to bed. For others, the ritual of preparing for bed is an integral part of caring for the child. For example, before going to sleep, a baby may need to be fed so they can fall asleep more comfortably and deeply.<\/span><\/p>\n

For decades in Western culture, experts have been promoting the baby\u2019s independence since birth. It\u2019s a sign of growing maturity when a <\/span>child<\/span> develops a <\/span>sleep pattern<\/span> and learns to control how long they sleep. Because of this, parents encourage their child to sleep for prolonged periods on their own, during which they can achieve deep sleep early.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, for 90% of the world\u2019s population, parents sleeping with their child is the norm. An evolutionary perspective confirms that co-sleeping improves the baby\u2019s survival and health. However, this practice can also pose some dangers as the baby could potentially be suffocated by a parent or their blankets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best safety practices regarding <\/span>children and sleep <\/span>require that parents who consume alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, or who have a severe health or weight problem, sleep in a separate bed. Another argument against sleeping together is that the child could form an excessive dependency on their parents, but the <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> don\u2019t confirm this.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Many Hours of Sleep Do Kids Need<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)<\/span><\/a> has collected accurate, verified information on how much sleep kids need. The data provides helpful guidelines on how much sleep children need at different stages in their development. The numbers refer to how many hours should be devoted to sleep over a 24-hour period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 1\u20134 weeks old: 15\u201318 hours of sleep a day<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to the <\/span>baby sleep patterns by age, <\/span>newborn babies usually sleep between 15 and 18 hours a day in total. However, it\u2019s too early to celebrate because their rest is short, usually lasting for one to two hours at a time. You probably won\u2019t get enough sleep, but this period doesn\u2019t last long.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that babies born prematurely tend to sleep longer, and those with colic problems wake up more often. Whatever the case, their sleep won\u2019t follow a specific pattern because newborns don\u2019t yet have a regulated biological clock. This means that their bodies can\u2019t distinguish between day and night, and therefore their sleep isn\u2019t impacted by the time of day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 1\u20133 months: 16\u201318 hours<\/b><\/h3>\n

The suggested <\/span>sleep requirements by age<\/span> indicate that most babies sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. Most of the time, they sleep after being changed and fed. This is a time when the baby is adapting to life beyond the mother\u2019s belly, so it\u2019s natural for your child to wake you up very often, especially at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 3\u20136 months: 13+ hours<\/b><\/h3>\n

As your baby grows, their sleep decreases. However, If you wonder <\/span>how much sleep do babies need<\/span> at this age, the answer is no less than 13 hours a day. And usually the baby will sleep for about three hours at a time. By now, the baby should already be starting to orient itself, so he or she can see the difference between day and night. You will probably notice your baby\u2019s sleep has begun to follow a particular sleep pattern.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 6\u201312 months: 13 hours<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is the right time to teach your baby to sleep at night. Best of all, they\u2019re asleep for longer periods of time: if you\u2019re lucky, you can enjoy up to six hours of rest at night while your baby sleeps\u2014but don\u2019t worry if that still doesn\u2019t happen. The amount of <\/span>sleep needed by age<\/span> drops to 13 hours a day during the first year, meaning your child should sleep once or twice a day before the evening. This is the perfect age to start establishing a sleep routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your child has trouble sleeping through the night, you can reduce the number of <\/span>naps during the day<\/span><\/a>: three is the optimal number for babies under six months, but as they get older, once or twice a day is more than enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 1\u20133 years: 12\u201314 hours\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

At this point, the AASM\u2019s <\/span>sleep chart by age<\/span> shows that a child\u2019s need to sleep reduces to about 12 hours a day, where the child sleeps for 2\u20133 hours in the afternoon, and the rest is during the night. Most 2-year-olds only sleep during the day for one hour, and at night they sleep for nine hours. This is the best time to establish sleep habits, and this becomes easier with each passing day as your child grows older and begins to understand more.<\/span><\/p>\n

But exactly <\/span>how much sleep does a 2-year-old need<\/span>? The answer varies, but usually 10\u201314 hours is healthy. If possible, add two more hours to how long your child sleeps overall. At the same time, try reducing how long they sleep during the day\u2014during this period, they should sleep just once a day. As your child gets older, they will still need to sleep during the day, but for a shorter period. The time should range from one to three hours as you gradually reduce it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So <\/span>when do babies sleep through the night<\/span>? Sleep specialists state that the <\/span>toddler age<\/span> is when your little one has no sleep problems at night. Usually, children this age fall asleep between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the evening and wake up between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 3\u20136 years: 10\u201312 hours<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is the period when your child will need to be phased out of daytime naps. They will still need to nap at age three, but by the time they\u2019re five, they should be transitioning away from the <\/span>toddler sleep schedule<\/span> and instead sleep through the night. Just make sure your child gets enough sleep at night, and everything will be fine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More good news, by this age, all sleep problems should no longer be an issue. And if you were lucky enough not to encounter any of them, you can rest easy because few sleep problems manifest after the age of three, according to the data following <\/span>toddler sleep cycles<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children 7\u201312 years: 10\u201311 hours<\/b><\/h3>\n

Although the average amount of sleep a child at this age receives is nine hours, in fact, your kid should sleep at least 10. This is also quite difficult because children become more active at this age.<\/span><\/p>\n

When a child is older than 12 years old, the amount of sleep they need is different. Some teens sleep as adults (8\u20139 hours), while others sleep more. However, there\u2019s no longer a rule for required hours of sleep\u2014everything depends on the needs of the particular child.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Specific Situations Affect How Long Children Sleep?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"How<\/span><\/p>\n

Underlying psychiatric or physical conditions can cause sleep loss and <\/span>insomnia<\/span> in <\/span>children<\/span>, and their total <\/span>sleep hours <\/span>will be seriously impacted. Among these are attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, <\/span>sleep apnea<\/span>, <\/span>snoring<\/span>, <\/span>sleepwalking<\/span><\/a>, talking in their sleep, <\/span>restless legs syndrome<\/span><\/a>, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

In cases like these, you should talk to your pediatrician. They may refer your child to a sleep specialist. Fortunately, sleep deprivation in children can be alleviated with lifestyle and environmental changes surrounding bedtime.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Consider When Your Child Is too Sleepy<\/b><\/h3>\n