What is a Healthy Amount of Sleep For Your Young Child?
From the time your child is a newborn, it is very important that they get an adequate amount of sleep.
If your child does not get enough sleep, they might have problems getting through their day and then settling down at night.
Sleep habits are formed from birth.
Newborns (up to 6 months) need about 16 hours of sleep daily - in 3 or 4 hour stints.
It is normal and healthy for babies to wake up throughout the night to eat.
As your baby grows, they will stay awake longer during the daytime and sleep more during the night.
Older babies up to one year of age need about 14 hours of sleep.
You need to help your baby learn about bedtime, put them to sleep at the same time each night and leave them to cry, they will eventually get the idea that it is time to go to sleep.
This can be difficult for parents to allow their baby to cry and not go to them, but they need to learn that bedtime is time to go to sleep.
Babies usually need 3 naps per day, morning, afternoon and evening.
Toddlers - 1-3 years of age need 10 hours of sleep.
Even though your toddler may be used to napping, they may start to resist bedtime.
It is important to keep routine up and insist on a regular bed time.
Preschoolers - 3 - 5 need about 10 hours of sleep.
Usually around this age, children start to experience nightmares.
Do go in to your child's bedroom and sooth them, but leave and allow them to settle down and go back to sleep.
If your child is fussy or cranky or has a hard time staying asleep at night, it might be because they are not having a long enough nap or that they are not going to be early enough.
Avoid giving your child any drinks with caffeine.
Try to keep television and video games out of the bedroom.
Many children will try to put bedtime off.
Make sure up that you set limits and stick to them.
Tuck your child in and read them stories.
Keeping a regular routine is very important.
Assure your child that they are safe and comfort them if they have nightmares.
Common sleep problems include: oSleep deprivation - if children do not get enough sleep they tend to get cranky and have a hard time staying asleep at night.
oSeparation anxiety - your child might have a hard time relaxing if they feel upset that you are not with them.
Give them an extra long cuddle before bed and give them something that makes them feel safe - a stuffed animal or cuddly blanket.
If your child does not get enough sleep, they might have problems getting through their day and then settling down at night.
Sleep habits are formed from birth.
Newborns (up to 6 months) need about 16 hours of sleep daily - in 3 or 4 hour stints.
It is normal and healthy for babies to wake up throughout the night to eat.
As your baby grows, they will stay awake longer during the daytime and sleep more during the night.
Older babies up to one year of age need about 14 hours of sleep.
You need to help your baby learn about bedtime, put them to sleep at the same time each night and leave them to cry, they will eventually get the idea that it is time to go to sleep.
This can be difficult for parents to allow their baby to cry and not go to them, but they need to learn that bedtime is time to go to sleep.
Babies usually need 3 naps per day, morning, afternoon and evening.
Toddlers - 1-3 years of age need 10 hours of sleep.
Even though your toddler may be used to napping, they may start to resist bedtime.
It is important to keep routine up and insist on a regular bed time.
Preschoolers - 3 - 5 need about 10 hours of sleep.
Usually around this age, children start to experience nightmares.
Do go in to your child's bedroom and sooth them, but leave and allow them to settle down and go back to sleep.
If your child is fussy or cranky or has a hard time staying asleep at night, it might be because they are not having a long enough nap or that they are not going to be early enough.
Avoid giving your child any drinks with caffeine.
Try to keep television and video games out of the bedroom.
Many children will try to put bedtime off.
Make sure up that you set limits and stick to them.
Tuck your child in and read them stories.
Keeping a regular routine is very important.
Assure your child that they are safe and comfort them if they have nightmares.
Common sleep problems include: oSleep deprivation - if children do not get enough sleep they tend to get cranky and have a hard time staying asleep at night.
oSeparation anxiety - your child might have a hard time relaxing if they feel upset that you are not with them.
Give them an extra long cuddle before bed and give them something that makes them feel safe - a stuffed animal or cuddly blanket.