Clearly as we age throughout childhood, we require less sleep per day. As an infant, we slept up to 16 hours per day. However, as we enter adulthood, we sleep much less. Here are some accepted guidelines regarding sleep in kids. Keep in mind, there is considerable variation, based upon lifestyle and genetics.

Although there can be a great deal of variation, here are some  examples of “reasonable” numbers of hours of sleep in kids:

• 0-4 months – 15 hours/night
• 4-12 months – 14 hours/night
• 3 years old – 13 hours/night
• 6 years old – 12 hours/night
• 11 years old – 11 hours/night
• 14 years old – 10 hours/night
• 17 years old – 9 hours/night

At the age of 2, usually children only require 1 nap per day. After the age of 5, naps are usually eliminated.

If your child doesn’t get this much sleep, it doesn’t always mean there is a problem. Like adults, many children can “get by” and function normally on less sleep than “normal”. However, if your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms listed below, there may be a problem and an appointment with Dr. Roy should be made:

• Falling asleep in school
• Falling grades
• Increased awakenings during the night
• Snoring on most nights
• “ADD” or “ADHD”
• Feelings of “creepy-crawly” sensations on the legs at night
• High Blood Pressure