Parents often ask how much their children should sleep. An adult feels if he has slept, can calculate the approximate time of his sleep, determine for himself when it is time to go to bed in order to be awake in the morning. But what about children?
Each person's sleep is individual, like other physiological processes. Each child has his own sleep and wakefulness regime. So forcing a child to go to bed and get up at a certain time, which is considered "normal," is useless and even cruel. Nevertheless, doctors have calculated a very specific sleep time that children need to be healthy. In reality, these figures differ from statistical ones only slightly - plus or minus 1 hour.
Sleep rate for children depending on age
Newborns can sleep up to 20 hours a day. The fact is that during the first month of life, complex processes take place in the body of the crumbs, which require a lot of strength and energy.
The sleep rate changes as the child grows up:
- 1 month - 15-18 hours (8-10 hours at night and 6-9 hours during the day, daytime dreams - 3-4 or more);
- 2 months - 15-17 hours (8-10 hours at night and 6-7 hours during the day, 3-4 daytime sleep);
- 3 months - 14-16 hours (9-11 hours at night and 5 hours during the day, 3-4 daytime sleep);
- 4-5 months - 15 hours (10 hours at night and 4-5 hours during the day, 3 naps);
- 6-8 months - 14.5 hours (11 hours at night and 3.5 hours during the day, 2-3 daytime sleep);
- 9-12 months - 13.5-14 hours (11 hours at night and 2-3.5 hours during the day, 2 naps);
- 1-1.5 years - 13.5 hours (11-11.5 hours at night and 2-2.5 hours during the day, 1-2 daytime naps);
- 1.5-2 years - 12.5-13 hours (10.5-11 hours at night and 1.5-2.5 hours during the day, 1 naps);
- 2.5-3 years - 12 hours (10.5 hours at night and 1.5 hours during the day, 1 daytime sleep);
- 4 years - 11.5 hours, the baby does not need to sleep during the day;
- 5-6 years old - 11 hours, the baby does not need to sleep during the day;
- 7-8 years old - 10.5 hours of night sleep;
- 9-10 years old - 9.5-10 hours of night sleep;
- 11-12 years old - 9.5-10 hours of night sleep;
- from 12 years old - 9-9.5 hours of night sleep.
It is not difficult to calculate how much your child sleeps. Track his sleep time over the course of several days (excluding bed time and feedings). Then calculate the average daily rate.
As your baby gets older, the amount of healthy sleep they spend at night decreases. For adults, it is enough to sleep about 8 hours a day to feel good.
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How to understand that the baby is not getting enough sleep?
Up to 6 months old, babies fall asleep on walks, during feedings, in strollers - wherever they want to take a nap. After six months, some facts may already indicate that the child is not getting enough sleep:
- the baby falls asleep in the car or stroller immediately after the start of the movement (such a dream is not healthy and of high quality - it is superficial and caused only by overwork, and after stopping the transport, the baby immediately wakes up);
- in the morning, the child gets up later than 7.30 (in babies, the biological clock is arranged in such a way that it is best for them to wake up from 6 to 7.30 - in this case, they will be asleep and in a good mood);
- the baby regularly wakes up before 6 in the morning (this also indicates problems with sleep and overwork, so there is no point in sending the children to the crib later so that they get up later);
- the baby constantly falls asleep and wakes up in tears (this is another evidence that the child is sent to the crib and woken up not when he needs it).
The signs of sleep deprivation are the same for young children and teenagers. They become irritable, aggressive and often naughty. Chronic fatigue is also evident if the child can suddenly fall asleep or lie down during the day and sleep until the next morning.
Remember, getting adequate sleep for the right amount of time is important for more than just your child's mood. It also helps to strengthen immunity, harmonious development, improve physical abilities and intelligence.
- When kids start sleeping all night
- Why does a child under one year old sleep poorly at night: how to improve a child's sleep?
- Why does a newborn baby flinch in sleep?
- how to put a child to sleep without tears and whims
