Does your child spend his days sleeping or, on the contrary, categorically refuses to take a nap or go to bed at night? How do you know if he is getting enough sleep? That's what we'll try to demystify for you!
Did you know that we spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping? Suffice to say that sleep is an element that could not be more essential to our existence. But what is the officially recommended number of hours for each age group? First of all, be aware that each person is different and therefore, despite the established averages, the important thing remains above all to make sure that your child is well rested when he wakes up and able to function properly throughout the day.
Sleep from birth to 4 months
As all new parents quickly discover, infant sleep patterns vary wildly from baby to baby!
Keep in mind that newborns can sleep up to 18 hours a day, 3-4 hours at a time. It is also quite normal for them to wake up at night to feed; as they grow older, their sleep periods will consolidate and they will sleep more at night while stayingawake longer during the day. Establishing a regular nap schedule will help your baby fall asleep more easily.
Sleep from 4 to 12 months
During this period, sleep needs generally vary between 12 and 16 hours a day.
At four months, most babies need three naps, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the early evening. Always maintain a regular schedule for naps and reinforce the sleep routine by repeating the same gestures each evening. To teach your toddler to fall asleep alone, you can also try putting him in his bed before he is completely asleep; this will help him fall back to sleep on his own when he wakes up at night.
Sleep from 1 to 2 years old
Young children at this age usually sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day.
To promote a good night's sleep, avoid letting your little one nap too late in the day, always maintain a regular sleep schedule, provide him with the quietest environment possible about 30 minutes before bedtime. bedtime, keep his room soothing and comfortable and let him sleep with a blanket or stuffed animal.
Sleep from 3 to 10 years old
For preschool and school-aged children, we recommend between 10 and 13 hours of sleep a day, including one or two naps for younger children, depending on need.
At this age, it is not uncommon for children to try to put off bedtime. So be sure to set your limits clearly, such as how many stories you will read.
Also avoid screens (television, computer, tablet, video games) one hour before bedtime and keep them away from caffeinated beverages like soft drinks!
Sleep from 11 to 18
Teens, on the other hand, need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day.
Obviously, they will tend to fall asleep much later in the evening, which is completely normal, but encourage them to adopt he althy sleep habits anyway. Invite them, for example, to avoid screens an hour before going to bed (just to let their brains rest and help them fall asleep more quickly), to turn off their telephone at night or to put it on "do not disturb" mode to avoid being woken by text messages and refrain from consuming caffeinated or stimulating drinks.
Sleep Disorders
If, despite your best efforts, your child always seems tired when he wakes up and doesn't seem to be getting a good night's rest, he may have a sleep disordersuch as obstructive sleep apnea (manifested by snoring, pauses in breathing with obstructive noises, and restless sleep), insomnia (a common problem that results in shorter and often less relaxing nights), hypersomnia (which is characterized by significant periods of drowsiness during the day),sleepwalking or night terrors.
To remedy this, it is often enough to set up and maintain a routine as well as to remove any source of stress. If the problems persist or worsen, then you can go see a doctor, who will perform tests (at home or in the laboratory) aimed at identifying the presence of a particular sleep disorder and evaluating the best treatment option. for your child.
After all, sleep is he alth!
