How much or how little sleep does your child need?

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It is well known that sleeping is healthy: the body collects new energy in the process, and dreams are used to process the impressions of the day and things that concern us. Sleep is therefore of great importance for our physical as well as our mental well-being. Read everything you need to know about "How much sleep does a child need?"

Children must first learn to develop sensible sleep patterns and good sleeping habits. The parents can support them and benefit themselves - the sleep rhythm of a child also influences the sleep of the parents and thus the family atmosphere as a whole. Fixed habits and relatively rigid bed times are therefore important.

How much or how little a child sleeps is individually different. As with the big ones, there are also "short sleepers" and "late sleepers" with the little ones. Many parents find it particularly stressful when their child falls into the first group, i.e. has a rather low need for sleep. But whether you are a short or late sleeper - do not try at all costs to change your child's sleep phases. There is information on the need for sleep in different age groups (see below). But these are only to be understood as guidelines!

How much sleep does an infant need?

During the first three months of life, infants sleep an average of 16 to 18 hours (out of 24 hours). But there are also babies who can get by on twelve hours and others who sleep up to 20 hours a day. Everything is fine as long as an infant is developing normally, gaining weight, and otherwise being active.

Of course, the babies do not sleep through in one piece within 24 hours, but usually wake up every two to three hours. Sometimes it takes up to five hours before hunger wakes them up. In principle, that's okay. However, if your baby has an increased energy requirement (for example because he is not gaining enough weight or has even lost weight), he must be woken up every two to three hours for a drink, provided that he does not wake up on his own. Your doctor or nurse will advise you individually in this case.

How much sleep does a three month old toddler need?

At around three months of age, the average daily sleep time is around 14.5 hours. Waking up several times at night is normal in the first few months of life - the little ones need one or more meals and a fresh diaper at night. Feed and swaddle your child at night with as little fuss as possible, for example with little light and no noise. This will make it easier for your child to go back to sleep afterwards.

Therefore, you should not play with your baby or talk to him too much during the nightly drinking or diaper phase. In this way, it learns that it is bedtime at night. It will be remembered that it is boring at night and that games are only played during the day.

Warning: The advice given here only applies to healthy babies.A sick child or a child with a fever needs immediate care when they wake up.

How much sleep does a six to twelve month old child need?

By the age of six to twelve months, the average sleep time is about 14 hours out of 24. From the sixth month, a baby can theoretically do without nightly meals. Many children of this age actually sleep through the night, i.e. at least six to eight hours at a time - if they fall asleep at 7 p.m., the offspring will be awake again at around 3 a.m.

If your child is still waking up at night after the age of six months and you are sure they are not sick, it is okay if you let five minutes pass first. Only then should you react. Caress your child's back and cover them, speak softly and soothingly to them so that they can feel your presence. If he is thirsty, just give him water.

A cuddly toy or pillow is also useful for children of this age. It gives him security when he wakes up at night.

How much sleep does a one to five year old child need?

The average length of sleep for children decreases with age. For example, offspring at the age of 18 months slumber an average of 13.5 hours per 24 hours. By the age of three this reduces to an average of 12.5 hours. Finally, five-year-olds get by with an average of 11.5 hours of sleep.

The section from the 3rd birthday to school enrollment at the age of six is known as the pre-school age. In this phase, children's sleeping habits are often firmly established. Remember that children at this age often have nightmares. When your child wakes up and cries at night, they need comfort and security. Caress it gently and whisper a few calming words to it. Also, do not ask your child about their dream if they are not really awake - children usually do not wake up properly after a nightmare and fall asleep quickly. The next morning they usually don't even know that they were dreaming.

To prepare the child for bedtime, a bedtime ritual (see below) is helpful as it creates a fixed framework and signals to the child that the day is over and that they are now going to sleep.

How much sleep does a school child need?

A child's need for sleep when they start school (six years of age) is on average eleven hours. Fixed bed times are particularly important here so that the child is rested in the morning for the activities of the new school day. In addition, morning fights with a tired child are far from pleasant, especially when there is time pressure. This applies to all sides, including the child himself.

The bedtime ritual

A bedtime ritual is a fixed routine that is repeated every day before bed. It should take 15 to 30 minutes and could look something like this:

Let your child "cool off" by playing a quiet game together.
Find the nightwear together.
Listen to some quiet music together.
Read something or tell a story to one another.
Put your child to bed. A cuddly toy gives security.

Is it normal for my child to sleep so little?

When assessing this question, you should first use your common sense: If your child has had a good rest in the morning, he or she is developing normally, if he is active and healthy, he will get enough sleep. This applies regardless of the absolute duration of sleep. To be on the safe side, you can also compare your child's sleep pattern with that of the rest of the family. Sometimes sleeping habits are hereditary.

If you are still unsure whether your child is getting enough sleep, speak to the pediatrician.