How Much Sleep Does a Child Need?   

Humans have a biological need for sleep. Developmental, psychological and cultural factors influence sleep rhythms. As a rule, it is generally believed that the younger the child, the greater the need for sleep. But taking into consideration the needs of each individual child, the amount of sleep required cannot be so easily calculated. 

Babies come into the world and first determine their own rhythm of life. Their sleeping patterns are distributed evenly throughout the day and night. They do not yet have any fixed sleeping or eating habits. As infants, some children sleep 20 hours a day, while others only sleep 11. The average sleep requirement in the second year of life is 12 hours and this can vary plus or minus two hours. Over time, children adapt to the rhythm of their immediate environment, and within a few months, babies satisfy most of their sleep requirement during the night.