Sleep regulates the factors that define our physical and mental health, in particular: Behaviour; Learning; Memory; Emotional regulation; Quality of life. How many hours of sleep do babies and children need? The American Academy of Pediatrics has considered and endorsed the consensus established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine with regard to how many hours of sleep each age group should have each day (on average). These sleeping times will contribute to the child’s development and health. Recommendations Babies aged from 4 to 12 months: 12 to 16 hours a day; Children aged 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours a day; Children aged 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours a day; Children aged 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours a day; Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours a day. Sleeping times: what’s best for babies? Each baby is different; the idea of adhering rigidly to set sleep patterns or trying to impose adult patterns upon them is unrealistic and can lead to hastily-drawn conclusions and anxiety. First of all, we need to understand that babies do not have a regular sleep cycle until they are around six months old. New-born babies sleep 16 to 18 hours a day on average, usually for short periods of 1 to 2 hours at a time. As time passes, their need for sleep reduces. By the age of around 3 months , most of them will have established a day-night cycle (although it is normal for them to wake up 4-5 times during the night) and spend more time awake during the day. At 4 months, the metabolic and central nervous system is already sufficiently mature for the baby to be able to sleep for around 10-11 hours at night and 4-5 hours during the day : this will normally be divided into 2 naps. At around 6 months, most babies sleep an average of 15 hours a day, and there is already a clear division between day and night , although it is normal to for them to wake up for a short time before quickly returning to sleep. From 6 to 12 months , babies sleep for around 12 to 16 hours . Is there anything I can do to help my baby to fall asleep? When it is nearly time for the baby or child to go to sleep, start reducing stimuli and create a calm environment; If you need to change nappies or feed the baby at night, do not stimulate or play with the child so as not to waken it any more; Place the baby on the bed when it's getting sleepy, but don't let it go to sleep just yet - it needs to get used to sleeping in its own bed; Talk and play more during the day, increasing the amount of time the child remains awake - so that you can both enjoy better, sounder sleep at night; Wait a few minutes before responding to the baby’s cries. If the baby can’t get to sleep on its own, make sure there's nothing upsetting it (it might be wet, hungry or something else), but if you can, do this without turning on the light, playing or picking the baby up, so you don't end up stimulating it any further. How can we promote sleep safety? During their first year of life, babies should sleep on their backs - this is proven to reduce the risk of cot death; Cots and carrycots should have firm and secure mattresses; The baby or child should sleep with its feet touching the lower end of the bed and the sheets tucked under its arms, to avoid the risk of it sliding down to the bottom of the bed; Never leave any objects in the cradle - this can increase the risk of suffocation; The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents until it is at least 6 months old; The baby should only be brought into its parents' bed for feeding or comforting; The baby should always sleep in its cot in order to avoid the risk of suffocation. This can happen if parents inadvertently roll over onto the baby. In the hospitals and clinics of the Hospital da Luz network, there are paediatric specialists who monitor the health of children and young people. Meet the Pediatrics team of Hospital da Luz network The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
