Pediatric Sleep: Children's Sleep Needs and Common Problems

Exhaustive guide to pediatric sleep covering sleep needs by age from newborns through adolescence, common pediatric sleep problems including sleep onset association disorder, night wakings, nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, and delayed sleep phase syndrome, the impact of sleep on child development, learning, and behavior, strategies for establishing healthy sleep habits in children, and when to seek professional help for pediatric sleep problems.

Sleep Health 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Introduction

Sleep is essential for children’s growth, development, learning, and behavior. Sleep needs change as children grow, and many children experience sleep problems at some point.

Sleep Needs by Age

Newborns sleep 14-17 hours per day. Infants need 12-15 hours. Toddlers need 11-14 hours. Preschoolers need 10-13 hours. School-age children need 9-11 hours. Adolescents need 8-10 hours.

Common Sleep Problems

Sleep onset association disorder occurs when children cannot fall asleep without specific conditions. Parasomnias include nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking. Delayed sleep phase syndrome is common in adolescents.

Conclusion

Pediatric sleep problems are common and treatable. Establishing healthy sleep habits early supports optimal development and well-being.