Proper Sleep Schedules for Growing Children
It is an absolute importance to maintain proper sleep schedules for growing children. This is because without proper sleep schedules children of all ages will suffer both mentally and physically from some of the most important benefits life has to offer: Learning and growing. Regardless of the age, even the youngest of children need their sleep in order to grow while older children need their sleep in order to maintain their studies and extracurricular activities.
From the moment a child is born the importance of proper sleep schedules becomes a discipline every parent should attempt to master. For their own sanity and the sake of their children. Learn all of the steps for proper sleep schedules for growing children.
Ages 0 to 6 Months
A newborn infant naturally will sleep a great majority of the time and this will last until they are about six months of age however, it is very important that parents ensure their newborn gets at least 16 to 20 hours of sleep each day. Newborns sleep very long hours because their body is adapting to the world around them allowing them the opportunity to grow mentally and physically in order to keep up. Sleep does not have to be consecutive but keep in mind that between 16 to 20 hours of sleep should be achieved for a healthy newborn.
Ages 6 Months to 1 Year
As a newborn gets older their sleep schedules tend to slightly change. They may not sleep at many long hours but sleep throughout the night and a nap during the day is still essential for growing children. Children ages six months to about one year should receive at least nine to eleven hours of sleep each night with a three hour nap during the day. This proper sleep schedule for growing children will help to ensure your growing child receives all the needed energy for their mental and physical growth.
Ages 1 Year to 3 Years
As children age into their first year their sleep schedules tend to stay the same but with increased awareness and activities throughout the day their nap time will dramatically change. Between the ages of one year and three years growing children should receive at least 10 to 13 hours of sleep each night with a three hour nap during the day if it can be achieved. Stress the importance of nap time to your growing child and if possible nap with them. This will reduce the stress the child may feel from “missing” out on play during nap time.
Ages 3 Year to Preteen (12 Years)
Between the ages of three years old and up to the preteen ages (12 years old) a child will experience school, sports, and other extracurricular activities that may affect their sleep schedules. Regardless of their passions and interests children between the ages of three and preteen ages should still receive at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night and if possible a small nap of at least an hour during the day. The older a child gets the less likely they will be to have a nap but while their young they will benefit from the energy stored and turned into mental and physical growth.
Ages 13 to Adult
The hardest sleep schedules for growing children will be between the ages of 13 years old and 18 years old. At this point they become a bit more responsible for their own rest while having distractions that may keep them up late at night such as homework, extracurricular activities and of course hormonal interests. Nevertheless a child at this age should be able to better understand proper sleep schedules for growing children and be able to feel the affect the next day of not achieving an appropriate amount of sleep the night before. The very minimum hours of sleep children between the age of 13 and 18 should receive is 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep each night. If they can achieve more and even a nap without disrupting their studies than by all means do so.
Recap Proper Sleep Schedules for Growing Children with Your Children
At a young age children will not be able to understand the importance of proper sleep schedules for growing children. In order to counter this understanding your schedules will have to alter in order to nap or at least rest with your young child during nap time so that they may get the sleep they need. However, as a child grows older than begin to understand more the importance of sleep and can begin to take naps on their own.
As children grow be sure to sit down with them and explain the importance of proper sleep schedules for growing children and how it can affect their health, mental awareness, and physical abilities if they do not achieve the sleep they need.
Sources:
“Healthy Sleep in Children.”
http://www.webmd.com/children/features/good-sound-sleep-for-children
“How Much Sleep Do Children Need?”
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/sleep-children
