| As a parent, understanding how much sleep your | | | | this age it is important to keep their bedtime and |
| child needs is important to their health and your | | | | nap times as consistent as possible. This is the |
| sanity. Just because you only need seven to nine | | | | age when fears start to develop. They may fear |
| hours a night doesn't mean that is all they need. | | | | monsters in the closet, or dark, etc. Do not |
| The following is a brief look at how much sleep | | | | indulge them. Do not cuddle them to sleep. Do not |
| kids need at their various ages and stages. | | | | let them sleep with you. This develops bad habits |
| Between birth and six months, children need | | | | that will be difficult to break. |
| sixteen to twenty hours. They are not yet on a | | | | Between ages three to ten, children need ten to |
| biological clock, and so light and dark make no | | | | twelve hours. At this stage your child is not likely |
| difference. This is not the time to put them on a | | | | napping, or if they are, their naps have grown |
| schedule, they will sleep and wake when they feel | | | | shorter. At this stage the most important thing |
| like it. Just make sure that when they are tired | | | | for your child is a solid ten hours or more at night. |
| they are allowed to sleep. | | | | This means putting them to bed at a consistent |
| Between six and twelve months, children need | | | | time is key. Your child should be put to bed |
| fourteen or fifteen hours. This is the stage when | | | | around seven, eight or nine at night, and you can |
| your baby will need to take several naps, and | | | | plan on them waking between six and eight in the |
| sleep at night as well. Most kids at this stage take | | | | morning. Remember, your child is growing older, |
| two or three naps during the day, and sleep | | | | and is going to be quite cunning at stalling their |
| through the night fairly well. They no longer need | | | | bedtime. So, to ensure your child gets the sleep |
| to eat at night. This is the best stage to start | | | | they need, develop a bedtime routine so that |
| your child on a routine. Pay attention to their | | | | they do not need drinks, etc. once they are in |
| normal moods, and put them on a sleep schedule | | | | bed because they have already had them. Do not |
| that gives them a morning nap when they are | | | | give in to stall tactics. |
| tired, and an afternoon nap when they are tired. | | | | Between ages eleven and twelve, children need |
| Put them to bed between seven and nine p.m., | | | | about ten hours. They do not take naps, and thus |
| and plan on them waking between six or eight | | | | should be put to bed on time, even on weekends. |
| a.m. | | | | Teenagers need about nine hours of sleep per |
| Between ages one and three, children need ten, | | | | night, and if they do not get it they will make up |
| up to thirteen hours. They should be taking one or | | | | for it with naps during the day, and crankiness |
| two naps a day. They will often transition from | | | | beyond the usual teen attitude. |
| two naps to just one around three years old. At | | | | |