Sleep Needs by Age
|
Age of Child |
Night time Sleep (hours) |
Day time Sleep (hours) |
Total Sleep (hours) |
|
0-2 months |
8-9 |
7-9 (3-5 naps) |
17-20 |
|
2-6 months |
9-10 |
4-5 (3-4 naps) |
14-16 |
|
6-12 months |
10-12 |
3-4 (2 naps) |
14 |
|
12-24 months |
11-12 |
2-3 (1 -2 naps) |
13-14 |
|
2-3 years |
11-13 |
1-2 (1 nap) |
12-14 |
|
3-5 years |
11-13 |
0-1 |
11-13 |
Signs that your child may not be getting enough sleep:
- Behavior- irritable, fussy, wound up, poor attention, needy
- Awakens in morning or from naps tired or cranky
- Falls asleep in car, stroller, highchair etc, when not naptime or bedtime
- Trouble falling asleep at bedtime and/or trouble with nighttime wakings
Simple steps to take to improve sleep:
- Make sleep a priority
- Create a regular schedule and stick with it as much as possible
- Establish a routine for bedtime and naptime. The child will become conditioned to this routine which will serve as a cue to the child that it is time to sleep.
- Put child to bed or down for naps at appropriate time for their age to sync with their circadian rhythms
- Teach children how to put themselves back to sleep if they awaken in the middle of the night or early from naps
- Be consistent on your expectations and how you handle disruptions, stalling tactics and developmental milestones
- Be consistent with sleep environment
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