Sleep Study done at Ohio State.

Children's Sleep Needs By : LuAnn Freppon, M.S., Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Richland County, and Kathy L. Reschke, Ph.D., Extension State Early Childhood Specialist, and Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University

The key to understanding children’s sleep needs is that each child is unique and their sleeping patterns and needs will be unique. However, it can be reassuring to know what is considered
to be average or typical for different ages.
Almost all children benefit from a consistent bed time and a routine to prepare for bed. The routine can be listening to music, reading a story, or can begin with a warm, relaxing bath. It is the security of knowing what to expect and preparing for rest that makes a routine effective. Other sleep needs vary according to the ages of the children:
Birth to Six Months
Newborn babies sleep more than they are awake, typically sleeping 16-18 hours a day. Infants’ sleep shows a pattern of cycling through different phases of sleeping and wakefulness
several times over a 24-hour period. Infants usually have four sleep cycles a day and need at least two naps or more, depending on the length of the nap. The length of the nap is frequently
related to their eating schedule. Infants’ sleep is evenly divided between regular sleep, when their body shows little or no activity and breathing is slow and regular, and irregular sleep, when their body reflects a high level of brain activity, similar to adults when they are dreaming. During this type of sleep, babies’ eyes move beneath their closed lids, their arms and legs may move slightly, and their breathing and heart rate are uneven. Many parents are concerned about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of infant death in the United States. SIDS is defined as any death of an infant under a year that remains unexplained after investigation. Risk of SIDS is highest at 2-4 months of age. The current recommendation is to place babies on their backs to help prevent suffocation. Pediatricians also recommend keeping all soft bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals away from sleeping infants to reduce the chance of suffocation. For further information about SIDS, please talk to your pediatrician or visit the American Association of Pediatrics’ website at http://www.aap.org.
Six Months to One Year
The six-month-old baby is developing a routine which typically includes two naps and about 12 hours of sleep at night. Infants this age go through the phases of sleep, which include a
light phase of crying, movement,or restlessness. If the baby needs her parent’s help, patting her back or talking to her without waking her completely may be all that is needed. If she wakes up completely, she may need a diaper change or feeding. In this case, she may still need assistance to return to sleep. Develop a routine for this also. Keep it simple with a minimum of stimulation such as talking or turning on the lights.
One- to Two-year-olds
The one-year-old will begin to decrease his need for sleep. A total of twelve to thirteen hours of sleep out of every 24 hours is typical. This may involve one or two naps. Over time, naps
will decrease in length. One-year-olds may respond best to a special toy or blanket as part of their sleep routine. If a one-year-old visits new surroundings or has his routine interrupted in other ways, his toy or blanket may become especially important for falling asleep.
Two- to Three-year-olds
Toddlers usually need only one nap but still need between nine and twelve hours of total sleep. Most two-year-olds take a 2- to 3-hour nap after lunch, but some children this age need much less. Unless a child shows signs of being overly tired or crabby due to a lack of sleep, it is not necessary that she take a nap at this age. As two-year-olds increase their independence, they often increase their fight against sleeping. It is impossible to make anyone sleep, but continuing with the bedtime routine and special toy can still be helpful. Allowing a child to make choices around bedtime, such as which pajamas to wear or which book to read, may also help satisfy that two-year-old need for control. When toddlers get overly stressed or tired, they may have a harder time falling asleep. They may revert back to previous sleep stages, or may need extra help falling asleep. Soothing music or an extra story while cuddling on a parent’s lap can help. Many parents choose this age to transition their child from a crib to a child’s bed. While the child is adjusting to the new bed, a removable guard rail will keep falls to a minimum.
Three Years and Up
From preschool through early elementary, children need less sleep, with a range of nine to eleven hours being typical. They may or may not need a nap, but may still enjoy a period of “quiet time” after lunch, listening to the reading of a favorite book or quiet music. Preschoolers still need their usual routines but, because of fears that tend to develop at this age, may need to use a night light. Nightmares are common in young children, particularly at this age when they can’t easily distinguish between reality and fantasy. For young preschoolers, dreams can be very
frightening. Calming a child after a nightmare will be necessary for her to fall back asleep. Nighttime toileting accidents will also require new routines and parent’s attention. For more information on children’s development and parenting, visit:
• OSU Extension Human Development and Family Science website at: http://hec.osu.edu/famlife/
• National Network for Child Care website at:
http://www.nncc.org
• CYFERnet (Children, Youth & Families Education
and Research Network) at:
http://www.cyfernet.org
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (1995). Caring
of your infant. Bantam Books.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2001). “Just
the Facts—SIDS.” http://www.aap.org/mrt/
factssids.htm.
Berk, L. (2000). Child development (5th edition).
Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon Publishing.
Cooper, C. (2000). The baby and child question
& answer book. New York: Dorling,
Kindersley Publishing.
Curtis, G. B. (2000). Your baby’s first year, week
by week. Fisher Books.
FLM-FS-9-02—page 2

*The key to understanding children’s sleep needs is that each child is unique and their sleeping patterns and needs will be unique.

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