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Interact with your child at bedtime. Don't let the TV, computer or video games take your place.
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Child Sleep Guidelines

Dr. Lisa Shives of Northshore Sleep Medicine recommends the following guidelines for the amount of sleep children need at each stage of their development.

  • Newborns (0-2 months)
    Sleep 11-18 hours through the day and night with no pattern.
  • Infants (2-12 months)
    Sleep 9-12 hours at night and nap for 2-5 hours.
  • By 6 months of age, most babies are capable of sleeping through the night.*
  • Toddlers (1-3 years)
     Sleep 11-13 hours with 1.5-3 hours spent in 1-2 naps.
    • DID YOU KNOW?: Sleep disorders in children are often misdiagnosed as ADHD or other learning or behavioral problems.
    See more Sleep Facts >>
  • Pre-Schoolers (3-5 years)
    Sleep 11-13 hours. Usually napping has stopped.
  • School- Age (6-12 years)
    Usually need 10-11 hours but often don't get this.
  • Adolescents (13-18 years)
    Usually need 9-9.5 hours. Sleep deprivation is notorious in this age group. Most teenagers only get 7 hours of sleep.

*This particular recommendation is based on guidelines provided
by Jodi Mindell, PhD, of Children's Hospital Philadelphia and
Judith Owens, MD, of Brown University.
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