How much sleep a child needs changes a lot as they grow up. According to numerous studies, child experts have made sleep suggestions for kids based on age. For babies, these suggestions run from up to 18 hours to eight hours for teens. Sleep is very important for a child’s growth and development at any age. Making sure your child gets enough sleep helps prevent long-term problems, but it also makes caring for your kid at a Brookeville child care center easier.
Different age groups have different sleep needs, but 7 hours of sleep is usually not enough for kids of any age. For good growth, babies need at least 12 hours of sleep a day, which includes naps. Tiny tots and kids need fewer naps as they age, but they still need at least 10 hours of sleep daily. Every day, most teens should get at least eight hours of sleep. However, some teens will need more sleep to be at their best. Most experts say adults, not kids, should sleep at least seven hours every night.
Sleep is very important for a child’s growth and development. When you’re a kid, sleep helps your brain do important things like memorizing and fixing problems. Because of this, kids who frequently sleep less than the recommended amount are more likely to have trouble focusing. Adults who work in child care in Brookeville, MD, know that different kids need different amounts of sleep. For good growth and development, some kids will need less sleep than others.
Newborn babies sleep 16 to 18 hours a day on average, and babies 4 to 11 months old sleep 12 to 16 hours a day on average. There are, however, big differences in how much sleep each baby needs. Before they turn one year old, kids’ sleep schedules and routines change a lot.
Babies have a lot of different sleep habits. Babies younger than three months sleep for short amounts of time during the day and night. They wake up every one to three hours. Between the ages of 4 and 6 months, kids may be able to sleep for six to eight hours straight and start to sleep through the night.
Some babies can sleep through the night for 10 to 12 hours after they are six months old. But around nine months, kids may wake up more at night because many of them start to have separation anxiety and want to be with a parent when they are alone in bed.
With naps included, toddlers should sleep 11 to 14 hours a day. Around the age of eighteen months, infants can start limiting their naps to one per day. Toddlers frequently have brief nighttime awakenings. Furthermore, 10% to 15% of children may exhibit fussiness and refuse to go to sleep at night. The fear of being left alone, or separation anxiety, is typically the cause of this aversion to going to bed.
Experts advise kids between three and five to sleep for ten to thirteen hours a day. While some preschoolers cease napping regularly, others continue to snooze. A common and healthful aspect of early life is napping, which aids in memory storage and learning for the developing brain. There is no set age at which a child must cease taking naps, as every child is unique and must cease by the time they are five years old.
It is advised that children between 6 to 12 get anywhere from 9 to 12 hours of sleep every night. Although studies indicate that naps can still be helpful for some children’s mood, conduct, and academic performance, most children whether they go home or to an after school program in Brookeville, MD, don’t take naps.
As puberty approaches, school-age children may experience increasing challenges in obtaining the necessary sleep. In a significant poll, more than half of middle school students in the United States said they slept fewer hours on school evenings than advised.
Although teens should receive 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, more than 70% of high school pupils in America don’t. The body’s circadian clock naturally changes to prefer later bedtimes during puberty and into adolescence. A lot of teenagers find that their social life, athletics, and jobs interfere with their ability to get enough sleep. Many school districts have early start hours, which makes teens’ lack of sleep worse.
Some kids don’t get enough rest. If your child is cranky, restless, or struggles to sleep through the night, it might be because they’re not going to bed early or napping long enough.
If your child is upset that you are not there, they might find it hard to calm down and go to sleep. You could give them a long hug before bed, a comfort item like a blanket or stuffed animal, a small night light, or leave their door open when you put them to bed.
A lot of kids will have dreams at some point or another. One thing that can cause nightmares is a fever or something that makes you feel or be physically stressed. Your kid might cry out for you to calm them. Talk to your child gently, hug them, and reassure them. Please do not “look for monsters.” Tell your kid that the things they see are just in their head.
It’s thought that around half of all kids have trouble sleeping. Different kinds of sleeping problems can happen. Parents or other adults caring for kids should bring these problems up with their doctor if there are signs of serious or long-lasting issues, like insomnia.
Making sure kids’ bedrooms are calm, quiet, and comfortable is often the first step in helping them sleep. This can help kids of all ages sleep better by making sure they have the right mattress for their needs and cutting down on blue light from TVs and other electronics.
Setting up good sleep habits, like a regular sleep plan and bedtime routine, can help you remember how important bedtime is and reduce the amount of time you sleep from night to night. It can be easier for kids to fall asleep and stay asleep at night if they have time to burn off energy during the day and relax before bed.
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.