How much sleep do kids need?

Charts listing the hours of sleep needed by children can cause concern when individual differences aren’t considered.

These numbers are simply averages reported for large groups of children of particular ages.

Sleep is very important to a child's wellbeing. A lack of sleep can cause a child to become hyperactive and disagreeable, and have extremes in behaviour.

Here are some approximate numbers based on age, as recommended by the Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic:

1 week  

• daytime: 8 hours 
• night time: 8.5 hours

4 weeks

• daytime: 6.75 hours 
• night time:  8.75 hours 

3 months 

• daytime: 5 hours 
• night time: 10 hours

6 months

• daytime: 4 hours 
• night time: 10 hours

9 months 

• daytime: 2.75 hours
• night time: 11.25 hours 

12 months 

• daytime: 2.5 hours
• night time: 11.5 hours 

2 years 

• daytime: 1.25 hours 
• night time: 11.75 hours 

3 years 

• daytime: 1 hour 
• night time: 11 hours

4 years 

• night time: 11.5 hours 

5 years 

• night time: 11 hours

6 years 

• night time: 10.75 hours   

7 years

• night time: 10.5 hours

8 years

• night time: 10.25 hours

9 years 

• night time: 10 hours

10 years 

• night time: 9.75 hours

11 years

• night time: 9.5 hours

12 years

• night time: 9.25 hours

13 years  

• night time: 9.25 hours

14 years

• night time: 9 hours

15 years

• night time: 8.75 hours

16 years

• night time: 8.5 hours