subject: What is the right amount of sleep for children? [print this page] What is the right amount of sleep for children?
The amount of sleep required by children varies depending on a child's age. The most amount of sleep is required by newborns, who need up to 16 hours of sleep each day, waking to be fed every few hours. Babies around the ages of three months old need up to 15 hours each day. For children between six and twelve months, up to 12 hours of sleep is needed every day. Older children between the ages of one and five need 10 to 12 hours of sleep every day.
As a child gets older, sleeping patterns can be more difficult to follow, especially when they start school. It is important that a routine is set to ensure that children receive a sufficient amount of sleep in order to perform well at school. If the household is hectic in the mornings, then it is important to ensure that children go to bed early so that they have more time to get ready in the morning. Getting a child to bed early also saves the hassle of having to get a tired child up on time and ready for school.
With teenagers, sticking to a routine can be more difficult, as they are likely to stay up longer watching television, playing games, or be out with friends. Older children require more sleep in order to concentrate at school, particularly those who are due to take exams. Teenagers may be more likely to suffer from stress or anxiety as a result of exams, which may prevent them from receiving a good night's sleep. It is important that parents recognise the symptoms of sleeping disorders. Common symptoms include irritability, stress, aggression and a lack of energy.
Parents with younger children may need to provide more comfort during the night. Offering comfort to younger children that suffer nightmares or cry regularly during the night will enable them to sleep better. For parents with older children that are in the process of studying exams, setting a study period and offering help will help to reduce any anxiety or stress that may occur. Set study periods with regular breaks will help teenagers to relax, reducing stress and leading to a much better night's sleep, lowering the risk of sleeping disorders.
