Sleep: How Much Do You need?
Posted on September 8, 2014
Hello!! A good diet, exercise, and adequate sleep are all the basics of healthy living. But that is easier to say than to do. I suggested to my college aged daughter when she complained of feeling tired, that maybe she was not getting enough sleep. She asked me, “How much sleep do I really need?” Sleep needs vary both by individual and by age. Children need more sleep than adults – even in their teenage years. Sleep guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are listed below. Is your family, including your children, getting this much sleep, including your children?
Ask your family to keep a sleep diary for a week.
You might be surprised!
| Age | Recommended Amount of Sleep |
|---|---|
| Newborns | 16–18 hours a day |
| Preschool-aged children | 11–12 hours a day |
| School-aged children | At least 10 hours a day |
| Teens | 9–10 hours a day |
| Adults (including the elderly) | 7–8 hours a day |
For further information and a more comprehensive discussion of recommended hours of sleep for different age groups—please see the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute .
Join me tomorrow when we talk about some of the risks of not getting enough sleep (besides being cranky….) And don’t forget to take my weekly sleep quiz to see how much you have learned!
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