The recommended amount of sleep varies by age group to support health, growth, and development. Here are the general guidelines based on expert sources:
- Newborns (0-3 months): 14 to 17 hours per day, including naps
- Infants (4-12 months): 12 to 16 hours per day, including naps
- Toddlers (1-2 years): 11 to 14 hours per day, including naps
- Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10 to 13 hours per day, may include naps
- School-age children (6-12 years): 9 to 12 hours per day
- Teenagers (13-18 years): 8 to 10 hours per day
- Adults (18-64 years): 7 to 9 hours per night
- Older adults (65+ years): 7 to 8 hours per night
These ranges allow for individual differences, and slight variations above or below may be acceptable depending on personal health and lifestyle. Consistently getting less sleep than recommended can lead to health problems such as impaired immunity, weight gain, and mental health issues
. In summary, sleep needs decrease with age from infancy through adulthood, stabilizing at about 7-9 hours for most adults, with a slight reduction recommended for older adults. Children and teens require significantly more sleep to support their development
