Sleep Like a Baby

As any parent can testify, a child with too little sleep is an absolute nightmare. For some reason, 2-year-olds simply won’t listen to research reports about how sleep rejuvenates the mind, body and immune system. They are such babies.

At the risk of sending screaming into the night all those parents of “high-needs” babies (son, you know who you are), here’s a guideline for how many hours of sleep a child needs.

And, Mr. I’m-18-and-Grown-Up, we know you’re not a child, but as long as you live under our roof . . .

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AGE NIGHTTIME SLEEP HOURS DAYTIME SLEEP HOURS TOTAL 1 week 8.5 8 16.5 1 month 8.5 7 15.5 3 months 10 5 15 6 months 11 3.5 14.5 9 months 11 3 14 1 year 11.75 2 13.75 18 months 11.75 1.75 13.5 2 years 11.75 1.25 13 3 years 11 1 12 4 years 11.5 5 years 11 6 years 10.75 7 years 10.5 8 years 10.25 9 years 10 10 years 9.75 11 years 9.5 12 years 9.25 13 years 9.25 14 years 9 15 years 8.75 16 years 8.5 17 years 8.25 18 years 8.25

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SOURCE: Children’s Hospital of Orange County