According to the National Sleep Foundation, recommended sleep ranges from 14-17 hours for newborns, 12-15 hours for infants, 11-14 hours for toddlers, 10-13 hours for preschoolers and 9-11 hours for school-age children.
Yet a recent National Sleep Foundation poll found that 44% of US children do not consistently get enough sleep, with younger children most likely to miss recommended targets.
Sleep experts say adequate sleep is critical not only for children's immediate mental and physical health but also for establishing healthy sleep habits later in life.
Sleep affects the whole family
The survey of 977 caregivers found that 95% believe good sleep is essential to family functioning, while nearly 80% said their own sleep suffers when their children do not sleep well.
Parents also reported a clear link between sleep and behaviour:
- 69% said poor sleep negatively affects their child's mood and daytime performance.
- 86% said good sleep improves behaviour and mood.
Parents often underestimate sleep needs
Researchers identified three key issues:
- Children are not getting enough sleep.
- Parents underestimate how much sleep children need.
- Families are not talking enough about sleep.
Among parents of babies aged 0-3 months, 78% underestimated their child's sleep requirements. For infants aged 4-11 months, the figure was 68%.
Many children were reported to be sleeping more than an hour less than recommended.
The study also found that while 74% of caregivers think about their children's sleep every day, nearly half rarely discuss the importance of sleep with their children.
Experts recommend framing sleep as a healthy daily habit, similar to brushing teeth, and focusing on benefits children understand, such as growing stronger, learning better and feeling happier.
Don't skip naps
Napping remains an important source of sleep, particularly for younger children.
Regular napping was reported among:
- 93% of children under one year old.
- 92% of children aged one to two.
- 47% of preschool children.
- 28% of school-age children.
Children who nap average just over two hours and 15 minutes of daytime sleep.
Experts caution that eliminating naps to encourage better nighttime sleep can backfire, leaving young children overtired and more irritable at bedtime.
Building healthy sleep habits
Sleep specialists recommend:
- Maintaining a consistent bedtime and bedtime routine.
- Creating a calm wind-down period before bed.
- Dimming lights and reducing stimulation in the evening.
- Replacing screens with quiet activities such as reading, drawing, journalling or listening to relaxing music.
- Exercising earlier in the day rather than before bedtime.
- Keeping sleep schedules consistent, including on weekends.
- Getting morning exposure to natural light to support the body's internal clock.
Experts also stress that parents play a crucial role in shaping sleep habits.
Children tend to model the behaviour they see at home, making it important for parents to prioritise and value sleep themselves.
Source: CNN
