Sleep needs in young children
Sleep is vital for children's development. During sleep, growth hormone is released¹, new memories and skills are consolidated², and the immune system is strengthened.³ Infants spend a large proportion of sleep in REM sleep, which is thought to play a particular role in brain maturation and the formation of neural connections.⁴
Recommended sleep amounts
Popular sources such as blogs and social media often cite exact hours for how much children should sleep at different ages. Research provides no such exact recommendations. Instead, broad intervals are given that reflect the large natural variation. Individual children may deviate from these intervals and that is perfectly normal – some children simply need more or less sleep than others.⁵ The table below shows sleep recommendations published by three major organisations.⁶ ⁷ ⁸
| Age group | NSF (2015) | AASM (2016) | WHO (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 months | 14–17 hrs | — | 14–17 hrs |
| 4–12 months | 12–15 hrs | 12–16 hrs | 12–16 hrs |
| 1–2 years | 11–14 hrs | 11–14 hrs | 11–14 hrs |
How much do babies sleep on average?
While the table above shows recommended intervals, the chart below shows how much children actually sleep according to studies using motion sensors. Cultural factors such as bedtimes and sleep routines also influence sleep patterns.⁹
Sleep distribution by age
Averages based on observed sleep durations in research reviews (Galland et al., 2012).
Studies based on questionnaires and sleep apps consistently report higher figures, and the difference can be an hour or more.⁵ ¹⁰
How much does a newborn sleep (0–3 months)?
Newborns typically sleep between 14 and 17 hours per day, distributed across many short periods without a clear distinction between day and night. Sleep cycles are short (about 45–50 minutes) and the baby wakes often to feed. It is completely normal for newborns to have no established day-night rhythm.⁵ ¹⁰
How much does a 3-month-old sleep?
By 3 months of age, sleep begins to consolidate into longer nighttime stretches. Most infants have their longest sleep periods at night, but still wake one or more times. In total, a 3-month-old typically sleeps around 14–16 hours per day, including three to four naps.⁵ ¹⁰ In a longitudinal study, half of all infants slept from midnight to 5 AM by this age.¹¹
How much does a 4-month-old sleep?
Around 3 to 4 months of age, an important maturation in sleep architecture occurs. The proportion of deeper sleep (NREM) increases and sleep cycles begin to resemble those of adults.¹² Longitudinal studies show that continuous nighttime sleep stretches continue to lengthen during this period. Total sleep needs are around 14–15 hours per day.⁵ ¹⁰ In popular parenting culture this period is sometimes called the "4-month sleep regression", but the term has no scientific definition. No study has specifically investigated whether a temporary worsening occurs at this particular age, but the longitudinal data available show that the overall trend is towards better nighttime sleep.
How much does a 6-month-old sleep?
Most children around 6 months of age sleep around 12–15 hours per day, with two to three naps that gradually become fewer. Nighttime sleep now makes up an increasingly large proportion of total sleep. Most children at this age sleep one or two longer continuous stretches at night, but night wakings are still common.⁵ ¹⁰
How much does an 8–9-month-old sleep?
Most children around 8 to 9 months of age sleep a total of about 12–14 hours per day and have transitioned to two naps. Major cognitive and motor milestones occur during this period – the baby begins crawling, pulling themselves up and understanding more of their surroundings. It is common for sleep to vary during periods of new motor development.⁵ ¹⁰ ¹³
How much does a 1-year-old sleep?
By one year of age many children have transitioned to one or two naps and sleep a total of around 12–14 hours per day. Night wakings are still common but often become shorter.⁵ ¹⁰
Related
References
- Takahashi, Y., Kipnis, D. M. & Daughaday, W. H. (1968). Growth hormone secretion during sleep. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 47(9), 2079–2090.
- Friedrich, M., Wilhelm, I., Born, J. & Friederici, A. D. (2015). Generalization of word meanings during infant sleep. Nature Communications, 6, 6004.
- Besedovsky, L., Lange, T. & Born, J. (2012). Sleep and immune function. Pflügers Archiv – European Journal of Physiology, 463(1), 121–137.
- Roffwarg, H. P., Muzio, J. N. & Dement, W. C. (1966). Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle. Science, 152(3722), 604–619.
- Galland, B. C. et al. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222.
- Hirshkowitz, M. et al. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40–43.
- Paruthi, S. et al. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786.
- World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Geneva: WHO.
- Mindell, J. A., Sadeh, A., Wiegand, B., How, T. H. & Goh, D. Y. T. (2010). Cross-cultural differences in infant and toddler sleep. Sleep Medicine, 11(3), 274–280.
- Iglowstein, I., Jenni, O. G., Molinari, L. & Largo, R. H. (2003). Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics, 111(2), 302–307.
- Henderson, J. M. T., France, K. G., Owens, J. L. & Blampied, N. M. (2010). Sleeping through the night: the consolidation of self-regulated sleep across the first year of life. Pediatrics, 126(5), e1081–e1087.
- Sheldon, S. H. (2014). Development of sleep in infants and children. I: Sheldon, S. H., Ferber, R. & Kryger, M. H. (red.), Principles and Practice of Pediatric Sleep Medicine (2:a uppl., s. 17–27). Elsevier.
- Sadeh, A., Tikotzky, L. & Scher, A. (2010). Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(2), 89–96.