Children’s sleep needs change as they grow, but all kids need more sleep than their parents. Sleep is crucial for growing bodies and minds. In fact, a recent Harvard Medical School study found when it came to sleep, babies and toddlers who slept fewer than 12 hours and watched two or more hours of TV a day were more likely to become overweight by age 3 than those who slept longer.
Not sure how much sleep your child is getting? Keep track of their Zs for a week to get the average daily amount (don’t forget naps). Then check against these times recommended by the National Sleep Foundation:
0-3 months
10 to 18 hours
Varies widely on an irregular around-the-clock schedule.
4-11 months
14 to 15 hours
Of these hours, 9 to 12 are at night, with naps tapering in frequency as the baby reaches a year old.
1-3 years
12 to 14 hours
At about 18 months, naps should decrease to once a day and last from one to three hours not too close to bedtime.
3-5 years
11 to 13 hours
Most kids drop their nap during this age range.
6-10 years
10 to 11 hours