Are you one of those people who thrives on five hours of sleep and coffee? Do your kids resist settling down at their scheduled bedtime and wake up groggy? Recommendations from the Sleep Foundation reveal exactly how much rest people need at every age. The 2015 study does take into account the fact that some children and adults may require slightly more or less than the average (see the "May Be Appropriate" sections of the chart), but the core range, with a minimum and maximum amount of sleep per night, should serve as a general guideline. So even though your toddler may seem fine on seven hours a night and no nap, or your teen may insist she needs 15 hours to feel alert, don't believe it!
Here's the breakdown:
Newborns (0–3 months): 14–17 hours a day
Infants (4–11 months): 12–15 hours a day
Toddlers (1–2 years): 11–14 hours a day
Preschoolers (3–5 years): 10–13 hours a day
School-age children (6–13 years): 9–11 hours a day
Teenagers (14–17): 8–10 hours a day
Younger adults (18–25): 7–9 hours a day
Adults (26–64): 7–9 hours a day
Older adults (65+): 7–8 hours a day
Our takeaway? Since the grandparents can get by on less sleep, put them on morning kid duty when they visit so you can catch an extra hour or two of shut-eye!
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