Children need to sleep much more than adults. The problem is that not all parents are aware of their child's real sleep needs.
I often come across the fact that parents either underestimate the need for sufficient sleep, or simply do not know the real recommendations.
SLEEP STANDARDS
5 years- 10.5-11 hours (this is the minimum; many people need to sleep 11-11.5 hours at night). Plus, at five years old, a child may still need daytime sleep (1-2 hours).
6 years- 10¾ hours (this is the minimum; many people need to sleep 11-11.5 hours at night). Plus, at six years old, a child may still need daytime sleep (1-2 hours).
7 years- 10½ hours (this is the minimum; many people need more sleep at night, up to 11-11.5 hours).
8 years- 10¼ hours (sometimes up to 11 hours).
9 years old- 10 hours
10 years- 9¾ hours
11 years old- 9½ hours
12 years old- 9¼ hours
13 years old- 9¼ hours
14 years old- 9 hours
15 years- 8¾ hours
16 years old- 8½ hours
17 years old- 8¼ hours
18 years old- 8¼hours
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Above are the average numbers. But there are children who need less or more sleep. The American National Sleep Foundation has issued recommendations in this regard. They show the lower and higher limits of the norm.
See recommendations from the American Sleep Foundation.
DAY SLEEP
On average, napping occurs around age 4, but your child may need naps later. Some children need it until school, or even in first grade. Watch your baby.
Recently, the mother of a five-year-old boy contacted me, who began to have difficulty falling asleep. The baby could not sleep for a long time in the evening. In the morning the child showed obvious signs of weakness. In addition, he began to sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, which had not happened since infancy. I found out that just recently the boy stopped sleeping during the day and also started going to football classes three times a week in the evenings. According to the mother, the child was always an early bird and got up no later than seven in the morning. Now it turned out that the boy got up at 7 a.m., was put to bed around 9 p.m., and actually began to fall asleep around 10 p.m. The child actually slept about 9 hours a day when he needed 11 hours.
What happened?
The fact is that when children refuse daytime sleep, it is often necessary to make bedtime earlier. In this case, the laying remained the same, but football was added. Physically exhausting activities increased the need for rest, which was never compensated for. As a result, the baby simply began to sleep poorly due to overwork. This sounds paradoxical, but it is true: being overtired does not mean falling asleep easily. We fall asleep without problems when we are tired enough for the day. But if we are overtired or overexcited, the concentration of cortisol (the stress hormone) increases in the blood, which does not contribute to normal sleep.
When my mother changed her bedtime to as early as possible, the problems went away. As a result, now my son goes to bed around 20-20.30. Everyone is happy.
Everyone knows that it is during sleep that children grow, sick people recover, and tired people regain strength. The fact is that there are many metabolic processes that contribute to the development of the body and normalize its condition.
Those who sleep a sufficient amount of time think better and think much faster are therefore able to achieve great success in intellectual work. In addition, those who sleep a sufficient number of hours a day are more physically active and can therefore achieve greater success in sports. People who get enough sleep look younger than their age, and children who sleep are quite active, grow and develop well, and also get sick much less often.
What are the dangers of lack of sleep for a future schoolchild?
Today, specialists in the field of pediatrics state that a large number of preschool children do not get enough sleep, which results in a large number of problems. The fact is that lack of sleep in children is much more dangerous than in the case of an adult, since it can cause developmental delays, both physically and mentally.
It is during sleep that the body produces growth hormone, thanks to which the body curls. In addition, it is during sleep that the human brain assimilates information that the child managed to learn during sleep. If a child sleeps as much as his body needs, then he develops better and has better memory than his peer who is constantly lacking sleep.
In addition, children who suffer from lack of sleep are much more likely to develop diseases of the cardiovascular system, and their immune system also suffers. Often children who suffer from lack of sleep are fussy, cannot concentrate, and consequently lag behind in their studies, and are nervous.
Sleep norm for a child
For children of different ages, the number of hours of sleep is different. This is not only a matter of age, but also of the individual characteristics of the body, although there are still average sleep indicators.
Children aged six need sleep at least nine hours of sleep at night and one and a half to two hours at night. The total number of hours of sleep for a child of this age should be at least eleven.
Reasons for a child's sleep deprivation
Lack of sleep is considered to be sleep that lasts one and a half to two hours less than necessary. Although it is worth noting that some children sleep less than expected due to the individual characteristics of the body. In this case, the child does not have any serious health problems, he is diligent and not nervous, then you should not worry, much less force him to sleep more.
A child's workload can cause lack of sleep. Don't put too much pressure on your child, if he attends kindergarten or goes to training, then there is no need to enroll him in the arts school and sports section, you need to either choose one thing if the child needs classes at this age at all. Also, the reason for a child’s lack of sleep may be the lack of comfortable sleeping conditions, when the child simply cannot fall asleep or constantly wakes up due to external irritants.
How to create conditions for a child to sleep
It is necessary that the child falls asleep and falls asleep at the same time. A sleep schedule is useful at any age, especially in childhood. It is necessary to set a specific time when the child will fall asleep and you should not deviate from this rule under any circumstances. Over time, the child’s body will get used to the fact that, for example, at nine in the evening the owner must go to bed and the child will be very sleepy at this time.Proper preparation for bed also is a prerequisite long and sound sleep, which will help restore the child’s strength. In addition, at the age of six, the child needs to be prepared for school, so maintaining a sleep schedule is especially important!
First, you need to complete all your tasks an hour and a half before bedtime. Accordingly, all noisy and active games, preparing homework for tomorrow, watching a movie, etc. should not be completed just before going to bed. The fact is that activities that require physical and mental activity leave you in tension for some time, which makes it much more difficult for your child to fall asleep.
Before going to bed, you can play calm games or listen to calm, relaxing music. You need to leave little time for this quiet leisure time, since it is necessary to leave time for hygiene procedures and preparations, in terms of putting on pajamas and making the bed.
Separately, it should be noted that sleep patterns should be coordinated with food intake. In other words, a child of any age, and even an adult, should not eat at night. Dinner should take place no later than two hours before going to bed. The point here is not only that eating at night is harmful to the stomach, but also that lightness in the body helps you fall asleep faster. If you really want to eat, then you should offer your child a glass of kefir and a couple of cookies, or maybe a small low-calorie sandwich.
Comfortable atmosphere in the bedroom The baby is also a necessary condition for the child to have a calm and sound sleep. Before sending your child to bed, you need to ventilate the premises. Stuffy, stagnant air does not contribute to comfort during sleep. The room where the child sleeps should have an optimal level of humidity, so if the air is too dry after ventilation, you can use a humidifier.
The light should be turned off; if the child is afraid of complete darkness, then you can install a night light that will shine with dim light. Such lighting will guarantee the child’s peace of mind and will not interfere with his restful sleep.
The noise is also worth noting. The room should be quiet. The fact is that light noises can make a child’s sleep weak and cause him to fall asleep frequently, which cannot contribute to the restoration of the body, as a result of which the child will not get enough sleep.
The most difficult year with sleepless nights, fears, and worries is behind us. Now your child has grown up, and it has become a little easier for you, but the question of how much sleep a child should sleep is still a burning issue for most parents.
Baby's sleep from 12 months to one and a half years
After 12 months, many babies switch from 2 naps a day to 1 nap. Often this transition is difficult, children get tired and capricious. Sometimes the way out can be a reasonable alternation of days with one nap and days with two, or putting him to bed early at night if the baby only slept once during the day.
If your one-year-old takes two long naps during the day, don't expect him to sleep long at night. Most likely, he will wake you up at 5-6 o’clock in the morning, so that at 10 he will want to go to bed again. If he sleeps at night longer than the hours indicated in the table, then the duration of his daytime sleep will be less than average. As a rule, all children are set to have one nap during the day, and this schedule is maintained until primary school age.
As a rule, until the age of one and a half years, the child’s regime gently changes towards a one-time daytime nap, which completely covers the need for rest.
Sleep duration of children from 18 months to 2 years
At one and a half years old, the baby spends about 11-12 hours sleeping at night, and during the day - about 3 hours at a time. If your 18-month-old baby still doesn't mind taking an hour-long nap during the day a second time, don't discourage him. Just don’t let him sleep in the evening for more than an hour, otherwise his bedtime may shift late into the night.
At the age of about 2 years, children are often tormented. Often the baby flatly refuses to be left alone in a dark bedroom; when his mother tries to put him down and leave, he bursts into heart-breaking crying. Under no circumstances should you leave him alone in the dark if he cries and won’t let go of his mother! If he becomes silent, it is not because he has calmed down, but from melancholy and hopelessness. Do not consider this as whims - the baby may really be afraid of something. Remember that he is just a small child, not yet very intelligent. Turn on a night light in the children's room and leave the door open so that he knows that his mother is nearby and ready to come at any moment.
If this doesn't help, lie down with him on your bed. As a rule, the baby immediately falls asleep, feeling the security and warmth of his mother. When the baby is fast asleep, you can quietly get up and go about your business. When you return, you should carefully pick up the sleeping child and put him in a crib, but be prepared for the fact that in the middle of the night the baby will wake up and again ask to be with his mother.
Accustoming a child to sleep with you in an adult bed is not very healthy, but sometimes a mother’s sleep next to her baby is the only salvation from sleepless nights and children’s tears. The inconvenience is temporary, the child will grow up a little and within a month he will understand that he is safe at home and has no one to fear.
Being categorical about sleeping together is not always necessary. If the baby is very scared or sick, he will fall asleep much more calmly with his mother. The main thing is not to turn an exception into a habit.
Sleep of children 2-3 years old
How much sleep should a child between 2 and 3 years old sleep? Such children need approximately 11-11.5 hours of sleep at night and two hours of rest after lunch. At this age, the following problems may arise with going to bed:
- A 2-year-old child has grown enough to climb out of a crib on his own, risking falling and getting injured. Don't get excited about his new skill, but be persistent and get him back to bed. Strictly and calmly tell your child that he should not do this. After a few comments, he might listen. If the child still continues to climb out, then create conditions for his safety: make a lower fencing for the crib, place pillows or soft toys in front of the crib.
- The baby may deliberately delay falling asleep at night. Lying in the crib, he calls his mother, asking for one toy, then another, then a drink of water, then another fairy tale to tell. Try to fulfill the child’s requests within reasonable limits, but still kiss him and firmly wish him good night.
- There can be no question of any night sleep if the baby has managed to get hungry. Make sure he's not hungry; at the very least, give him an apple or pear.
An older child can learn to leave the crib on his own, but this is fraught with injury, and it is simply not necessary. Attempts should be stopped if possible How much sleep does a child over 3 years old need?
The older a child gets, the fewer hours he spends sleeping. Finally, your child's sleep pattern has become almost the same as yours. How long does your baby sleep now? Children after 3 years of age usually go to bed around 9 pm and wake up between 7 and 8 am.
Now the child sleeps about 10 hours at night and a couple of hours during the day. It is recommended to follow this schedule until the age of 7. How long a child sleeps at night determines his well-being and activity during the day. Over time, your son or daughter's naps become shorter and shorter, and by the end of the preschool period, most children do without naps at all.
So, let's look at the average number of hours presented in the table that healthy children 1-7 years old should normally sleep during the day.
The figures given are very average. Each child has a different need for rest, which largely depends on the daily routine of the family where the child is growing up, the state of the baby’s nervous system and psyche, his temperament (he is active or slow), how much time the baby spends walking in the fresh air, and whether he is healthy.
Early refusal of daytime sleep
Already in the 4th year of life, some children stop sleeping after lunch. As a rule, this happens due to being carried away by an interesting activity or waking up too late in the morning. Until what age do you let your baby sleep in the morning? If a child is not forced to get up early in the morning to go to kindergarten, the parents feel sorry for him and allow him to sleep in the morning until almost 11 o’clock - this should not be done (see also:). At the age of 3-4 years, daytime naps are still necessary, and parents should make every effort to maintain them for as long as possible.
If your child still stops falling asleep during the day, don’t force him or scold him – it doesn’t make sense. Adults are not able to force themselves to fall asleep when they don’t want to, and what is the demand for 3-5 year old children who still don’t know how to control their reactions?
At 4-5 years old, for a child to fully relax his nervous system, it may be enough to simply lie down in silence and play with his favorite toy. Or lie down with him and read a book to him. An hour of rest for a tired mother will not hurt.
How does the duration of daytime sleep affect nighttime sleep?
Some mothers mistakenly believe that if the child sleeps little during the day (or does not sleep at all), then he will sleep more soundly at night. This is wrong. Tired, but full of impressions from the past day, he will not be able to sleep for a very long time.
Is it necessary to put your child to bed and wake him up at the same time every day? If you see that your baby is clearly overtired or unwell, then nothing bad will happen if you put him to bed early and wake him up later than usual. In this matter, everything depends on the child’s well-being. Don't unnecessarily wake him up too early or put him to bed if he's still alert and active.
How long can a baby sleep?
As much as he needs, the answer suggests itself. And in general, the child does not owe anything to anyone. Sleep is a natural process. The baby is tired - he will sleep. He doesn’t want to sleep, which means he’s not tired enough yet; the body doesn’t need it. So?
So, if your baby is over 7 years old (and sometimes even 17). So, if your child belongs to the so-called flexible temperament type. U flexible child indeed, almost from birth there is a constant sleep and wakefulness routine. Such a baby does not need outside help to fall asleep. Complaisant children for a long time and
sleep soundly, do not cry even during brief awakenings between stages of sleep.
In most other cases, it is advisable for the mother to have at least an approximate idea of how much the child should/can be awake and sleep per day at his age.
For what?
- To avoid overwork.
- To avoid the accumulation of fatigue and hyperfatigue in the baby.
- So that the baby gets enough sleep necessary for brain development, growth, and “recharging” all body systems.
- To improve the child's mood.
- So as not to wait for the impossible.
All mothers know how much a child should eat, how much weight he should gain, but how many know how much a child should sleep, and moreover, are they worried about him getting this amount? The study “On the importance of sleep for child development” can be read in the Sleep Research section. In this article we will dwell in detail on the concept of “sleep norm”.
The duration of sleep depends on age: The younger the body, the more a person should sleep. So, a newborn sleeps almost the whole day, a one-year-old is satisfied with 14 hours of sleep, children aged 3-5 years should sleep about 11-12 hours, primary schoolchildren - 10-11 hours, high school students - 8.5-9 hours, adults - 7-8 hours a day.
Approximately how long a child should/can sleep: a newborn baby - in the first year of life - up to 3 years of age - a preschooler - a high school student - a high school student.
Table: norm for children's sleep (0 - 17 years).
|
Age |
Development |
Sleep duration in children (in hours/per day) |
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|
Daytime |
Night |
Total |
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|
Newborn. |
They control nothing but their eyes. |
1-2 hours, every hour |
5-6 can sleep without a break |
|
|
1 month |
Notice their surroundings |
(4 sleeps of 40 m - 1.5 hours) |
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|
3 months |
||||
|
3-4 months |
Gains mobility. |
3 sleeps of 1.5 - 2 hours |
||
|
5-6 months |
Transition to 2 naps (some transition later, at 6-8m.) |
2 sleeps of 1.5 - 3 hours |
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|
6 months |
||||
|
6-8 months |
More mobility. May begin to sit and crawl. |
2 naps of 1-2 hours |
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|
9-12 months |
Learns to stand up and walk. Fear of separation from mother. |
2 sleeps of 1 - 1.5 hours |
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|
12 months |
Go to 1 dream usually occurs between 1 and 1.5 years |
|||
|
18 months |
1 nap - 2 hours |
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|
2 years |
Possible bad dreams. |
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|
3 years |
||||
|
3-4 years |
May lose daytime sleep. In this case, you must get 12 hours of sleep at night. |
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|
4-5 years |
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|
5-7 years |
||||
|
7-10 years |
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|
10-12 years |
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|
12-14 years old |
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|
14-17 years old |
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The above standards are average, some need more, some need less. The child cannot be “fitted” to the clock. And you don't need to do this. The main criterion for the “norm” is always the baby’s good health, smiles and cheerfulness.
The duration and timing of sleep depend on the individual’s personality (temperament). A “difficult” child, compared to an “easy-going” one, may sleep less. There are also children who sleep little. The baby’s sleep is also influenced by the phase of his development (stages of physical and psychological maturation), teething, and so on.
The duration of sleep should be sufficient to ensure adequate rest for the child.
Lack of sleep is harmful. Sooner or later it leads to chronic fatigue and a breakdown of the nervous system. Finnish scientists have proven that children whose sleep duration is limited have an increased risk of behavior problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Be careful! If a four-year-old, for example, goes to bed at 10 pm, and at 7 you have to wake him up to get ready for kindergarten (and there is no daytime sleep), the daily sleep duration is 9 hours (instead of the required 11 at this age). A child may behave adequately for several days or even weeks, but as fatigue accumulates, nervous breakdowns, whims out of the blue, increased excitability, and attempts to fall asleep very early (at 6 pm, for example) several times a week may occur. Parents often think, “I have such an active child who doesn’t sleep much,” “we are facing an age crisis,” etc., not realizing that the baby simply sleeps little. What to do? Early bedtime will significantly improve the situation (gradually strive for it, shifting your bedtime by 15 minutes).
By the way, Excessive sleep is also not beneficial. Children who sleep excessively long are usually lethargic and unfriendly; this is how illness can begin. Monitor the quantity and quality of sleep of your beloved children for the sake of their health!
Table " How long should/can a child sleep? will help you have real expectations regarding the duration of a child’s sleep at a given age. Often parents require longer sleep, which leads to problems and frequent waking up. Often parents do not control sleep at all, which leads to overwork and hyperfatigue.
Sleep norm- this is your approximate guideline. With the baby’s general positive attitude, deviations in any direction for an hour are normal (taking into account the child’s characteristics). However, it is worth remembering: according to a comprehensive study of the nature of sleep completed not so long ago by Dr. Avi Sadeh at Tel Aviv University, even one hour Regular lack of sleep compromises the efficiency of your baby's brain function, reduces alertness, and also leads to increased fatigue in the early evening. This very significant finding should encourage parents to monitor their babies' total sleep with utmost care.
Listen to your child, trust your feelings, monitor your children’s sleep patterns.
All mothers are always concerned about the question: “how much sleep should a child sleep?” We will definitely provide approximate daily sleep norms for a child depending on age. But, anticipating that mothers will begin to compare how much their child sleeps with the recommended indicators and get upset ahead of time, we note: the duration of sleep for all children is individual!
As for an adult, a number of factors influence the duration of a child’s sleep: from psychological and physical condition to temperament and daily routine. If the child is healthy, feels good, is alert and active during the day, but the child sleeps less than recommended, there is no need to worry. Unless, of course, we are talking about small deviations from these standards. However, there is a pattern: the smaller the child, the more he should sleep.
Here are the average values for how much sleep a child should sleep depending on age:
From 1 to 2 months, the baby should sleep about 18 hours;
From 3 to 4 months, the child should sleep 17-18 hours;
From 5 to 6 months, a baby should sleep about 16 hours;
From 7 to 9 months, a baby should sleep about 15 hours;
From 10 to 12 months, a baby should sleep about 13 hours;
From 1 to 1.5 years, the child sleeps 2 times during the day: 1st sleep lasts 2-2.5 hours, 2nd sleep lasts 1.5 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 1.5 to 2 years, the child sleeps once during the day for 2.5-3 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 2 to 3 years old, the child sleeps once during the day for 2-2.5 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 3 to 7 years old, the child sleeps once during the day for about 2 hours, night sleep lasts 10 hours;
After 7 years, a child does not have to sleep during the day; at night, a child at this age should sleep at least 8-9 hours.
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