Go to Bed: New Sleep Guidelines

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has released a new set of sleep guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses these guidelines.

Here is how much your child should be sleeping:

  • Infants 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
  • Children 1 to 2 years of age should sleep 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
  • Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
  • Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours
  • Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours
Teens are the toughest to improve sleep hygiene. Their body clocks change so they are biologically night owls. Some schools are now starting later so teens can get enough sleep. Getting plenty of sleep leads to better learning, increased attention, and fewer injuries and fights.

For kids under 12, sort out when they need to get up to prepare for school. Count backwards from that time to establish a bedtime. Your kids may function fine with nine hours of sleep or may require 12.

For little kids, watch for signs of sleepiness. The rubbing of the eyes and the long blinks are clear indicators your child is tired. Notice the time these sleepy symptoms occur and use that as your bedtime guide.

Everyone should finish all games, chats and dealings with electronics 15 to 30 minutes before bed. Don't take the cell phone or tablet to bed with you. Keep the bed dedicated to sleeping.

Listen in as Dr. Lee J. Brooks discusses these new guidelines.
Go to Bed: New Sleep Guidelines
Featuring:
Lee J. Brooks, MD
Dr. Lee J. BrooksLee J. Brooks, MD, is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and Attending Physician in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is Board-Certified in Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonology, and Sleep medicine. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers, reviews and book chapters. He is active as a teacher, and has spoken on pediatric sleep topics all over the world. He has served on many National committees, including those formed by the CDC, the AAP, ACCP, and ATS. He represented the AAP to the Consensus Conference convened by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations, recently published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.