According to experts at the Sleep Medicine and Research Center in St. Louis, the current estimates of the sleep needs of children for each 24 hours are as follows:
• One-year-old: 14 hours, including one or two naps
• Two-year-old: 11 to 12 hours at night plus a single, after-lunch nap of one to two hours
• Three-year-old: 12 to 12 1/2 hours
• Four-year-old: 11 ½ to 12 hours
• Five-year-old: 11 hours
• Six-year-old: 10 3/4 to 11 hours
• Seven-year-old: 10 1/2 to 11 hours
• Eight-year-old: 10 1/4 to 10 3/4 hours
• Nine-year-old: 10 to 10 1/3 hours
• Ten through puberty: 9 3/4 to 10 hours
• Adolescent to adult: 9 ¼ hours
What do you think? Join the debate and share your opinion.
Inda Schaenen is a freelance writer and full-time mother of three children. She and her family live in St. Louis, Missouri.
