Newborns (0-3 months)

  • 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.

Infants (4-11 months)

  • 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.

Toddlers (1-2 years)

  • 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.

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

  • 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.

School Children (6-13 years)

  • 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.

Teenagers (14-17 years)

  • 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.
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