Sleep Recommendations for Children Released by American Academy of Sleep Medicine

By John D. Cowden, MD, MPH

Dr. Cowden is an associate editor with NEJM Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, from which this story was adapted. See full coverage at the link below.

Consensus recommendations on sleep amounts for children of different ages have been developed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

To promote optimal health, children should regularly sleep the following amounts per 24 hours:

• Infants aged 4 to 12 months: 12 to 16 hours (including naps)

• Children aged 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours (including naps)

• Children aged 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours (including naps)

• Children aged 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours

• Teens aged 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours

Comment: Although the recommended amounts of sleep may not differ significantly from what pediatric clinicians already suggest, the consensus statement provides a valuable update on the evidence for the health benefits of adequate sleep and the effects of sleeping too little or too much. The recommendations also serve as a reminder to think of sleep when assessing children with problematic behavior.