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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Sleep Needs by Age

You know how critical good sleep is for your child, but just how much sleep does your little one need? Keep in mind that children's sleep needs vary based on age as well as based on the individual needs of your child. Here are some basic guidelines based on age. 

Birth - 6 months: Young babies need about 16-20 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. 
Nighttime sleep for babies this age is generally 10-12 hours in length. 
Daytime sleep is usually 3-5 hours in length, usually split up between 2 to 3 naps.

6 - 12 Months: Nighttime sleep at this age is usually around 11 hours. 
Daytime sleep often totals between 3-4 hours and is split between 2 naps. 

Toddlers (1-3 Years): Toddlers need 10-13 total hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. 
Toddlers usually take one nap a day, in the afternoon, ranging between 1-3 hours in length.

Preschoolers (3-5 Years): 10-12 hours of nighttime sleep and one afternoon nap, which is usually dropped by age 5. 

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