Monday, December 5, 2011

Sleep Requirements by Age


Getting enough sleep is extremely important to the health and well being of all children. The consequences of sleep deprivation include the following: altered behaviors and mood changes, impaired immune system, becoming accident prone. Childhood is the best time to establish good sleeping patterns.

It is important to understand that specific sleep requirements will vary by individual. Some toddlers can be perfectly alert with 10 hours of sleep at night while others may need 15 hours with two naps during the day. It is important for daycare centers to have a daily nap time routine: those children who do not fall asleep will still benefit from quiet time. Child care centers and preschools need cribs for babies and cots for young children.

General Requirements by Age:

1-4 weeks old: 15-16 hours per day. Newborns spend most of their time sleeping for short periods (two to four hours at a time). They wake up frequently for changing and feeding.

1-12 months old: 14-15 hours per day. Babies will start sleeping for longer periods (six hours) at about six weeks of age. They usually take two to three naps per day. This is the ideal time to establish simple bedtime routines.

1-3 years old: 12-14 hours per day. Toddlers need less sleep than they did when they were younger, but they still need regular naps. At 18-21 months, toddlers begin to take one nap per day. After 21 months, most toddlers take an afternoon nap that varies from one hour to three and a half.

3-6 years old: 10-12 hours per day. Naps become shorter at this age. By age five, most children are no longer taking naps.

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