How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

We all want the best for our children and one common focus in ensuring that our children have the most amount of sleep that they need for their age.

There is a variation in the sleep needs for each child however, it is known that there is an average amount of sleep required for relevant ages.

Ensuring that your child has adequate sleep quantity to encourage optimal health and development is a high goal and common purpose for most parents.

There is an average amount of sleep your child will need for their age

But how much sleep does your child need? To make it easy for you, I have provided you with an age-by-age guide right up until 5 years of age!

Birth to 3 weeks – 6-9 hours day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 16-18 hours total

3 weeks to 6 weeks – 6-7 hours day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 16-17 hours total

6 weeks to 9 weeks – 5-6 hours day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 15-16.5 hours total

9 week to 12 weeks – 4.5-5 hours day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 14.5-15.6 hours total

12 weeks to 16 weeks – 4-4.5 hours day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 14-16.5 hours total

4 months - 3.5-4 hours total day sleep | 9-12 hours night sleep | 14-16 hours total

5 months - 3-3.5 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep | 14-15.5 hours total

6-7 months - 2.5-3.5 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep | 13.5-15.5 hours total

8-12 months - 2.5-3 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep | 13.5-15 hours total

12-14/18 months - 2-3 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep | 13-15 hours total

14/18 months - 2-2.5 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep | 13- 14.5 hours total

2.5-5 years – 0-2 hours total day sleep | 11-12 hours night sleep - 11-14 hours total

If you're looking for further information on your child's day sleep and how you can balance naps, download my free Day Sleep Guide:

Day Sleep Guide

Buy Now

Whilst sleep quantity is a main focus on ensuring your child is achieving enough sleep for adequate growth and development, want you to remember is that just because your child achieves adequate levels of sleep quantity, it doesn't automatically mean they are "good sleepers". Quality of sleep is also as important as sleep quantity, so if your child is sleeping their recommended amount but are still waking tired, then we need to explore their quality of sleep. You can find out more about the differences between sleep quality and sleep quantity on the blog: https://www.shereennielsen.com/post/quantity-vs-quality

If you do need any assistance or guidance with establishing adequate sleep, then please book in for a 15 minute free discovery call.

Discovery Call

Book Now

Forever bringing sleep to families,

Shereen xx

I'm Shereen Nielsen, a certified Sleep Consultant specialising in infants and children from birth to 15 years old. With over seven years of experience, I've assisted over 4000 families in achieving better sleep. Additionally, I serve as a lecturer and mentor, guiding aspiring sleep consultants on their path to certification through my internationally recognised online sleep consultants course.

Phone: +61419820474

Email: hello@shereennielsen.com

Website: www.shereennielsen.com

Facebook: @shereennielsen.sleepconsultant

Instagram: @shereennielsen_sleepconsultant