How much sleep does my child need?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions asked about sleep. We all know that sleep is important but the amount of sleep needed is less well understood. 

Some children have very obvious signs that they’re not getting enough sleep. They may be more emotional than normal, sensitive, frustrated or can lose the ability to listen. Sound familiar? But others just seem to plod on without any obvious change in behaviour. However, deep down in their developing brains there may be changes and the child may not be meeting their full potential.

Sleep plays a crucial role in the development of young minds. Research now shows that a good sleep routine has a positive impact on many areas, such as cognitive development, resiliency, attention and concentration and most importantly happiness! 

So what is enough sleep? As a child gets older their brain can cope with less sleep. As a very rough guide we would expect a 1-12 month old to have 14-15 hours of sleep per day, a 1-3 yr old to have 12-14 hours, a 3-6yr old to have 10-12 hours and a 7-12 year old to have 10-11 hours. The teenage brain and sleep is a complex topic (one for another day) but on average 12 to 18-year-olds would need 8-9 hours minimum, in order to maintain the brain’s full potential for development, growth and learning (everything in life, not just school work).

Here at Now, Next & Then we all know how important sleep is but also how stressful a topic it can be for parents. A child’s sensory needs can directly impact sleep too, so functional advice can be invaluable. If sleep is a challenge for your child, then taking time to discuss sleep hygiene and sleep routine with an Occupational Therapist or Parent Support Specialist, can help to improve restful slumbers for your little ones and in turn, help to alleviate some of the stress and worry it can bring.

Lou Race
Occupational Therapist