Do you sleep enough?
It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard it: sleep is important to function properly. But how much sleep is enough? We list per age how many hours you should look at the inside of your eyes.
To sleep
If you’re one of those people who regularly get too little sleep through no fault of their own, it’s good to be reminded of how much sleep you really need. This may give you a little push to go to bed on time. The National Sleep Foundation of America has conducted research into how much sleep you need per age. This has changed a lot from the advice of the past, so you may be surprised!
Babies (0-3 months)
Babies are like cats, they sleep most of the day. They really need their sleep, because it allows them to grow and develop. Previously, the advice was that babies should get between 12 and 18 hours of sleep. There is a six hour difference, because it used to be thought that it depended on each baby. This advice has now been adjusted to 2 to 5 p.m. Less than that is not good for your baby.
Babies (4-11 months)
After three months it seems like babies don’t want to sleep at all anymore, but luckily they still need more sleep than adults. Babies this age should sleep 12 to 15 hours a day to stay healthy. Good luck putting them to bed, because usually their heads are not in it!
Toddlers (1-2 years)
Does your toddler stir things up at night? Then it may be time to shorten the afternoon nap. Toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep. If you let them sleep too long during the day, there is a good chance they will keep you awake at night.
Preschoolers (3-5 years)
At this age, children already need a lot less sleep, so much less than as a toddler that they can often skip their afternoon nap. Preschoolers should sleep 10 to 13 hours a day, which many can easily achieve in one night.
Children (6-13 years)
Children at this age already seem like whole people, but they still need a lot of sleep, more than adults! Children should sleep an average of 9 to 11 hours per night. So give them a strict bedtime, because sleeping in is no longer an option when they go to school.
Teenagers (14-17 years)
Teenagers can be quite difficult sometimes, because going to bed early is of course soooo not cool. Yet they need more sleep than adults, about 8 to 10 hours. So send them to bed on time, because a tired teenager is a grumpy teenager!
Young adults (18-25)
This age group sometimes has difficulty getting enough sleep, especially when they are studying and have just moved into their rooms. Parties, studying, watching Netflix all night… everything is more fun and exciting than sleeping! Young adults should sleep an average of 7 to 9 hours per night, although many don’t get that amount.
Adults (26-64)
Adults need the same number of hours of sleep as young adults, but they don’t always get it. And not because of the fun parties or late-night study sessions, but because of newborn babies or excess stress. Be strict with yourself and go to bed on time!
Elderly (65+)
Apparently, the elderly do not need as much sleep as was always thought: 7 to 8 hours of sleep is more than enough. That’s even less than people under 65!
Source: Tips and Facts | Image: Adobe Stock
