Many people do not get the amount of sleep they need for optimal health. From babyhood through the senior years, sleep needs change, but the importance of getting the right amount of sleep does not. It is important to know how much sleep is needed during each stage of life.
Why Do People Need to Sleep?
Research concludes that sleep is the time when the body does most of its repair work on muscles, tissues and cells that may have been damaged throughout the day. It is also the time when the body restores energy supplies that have been depleted during the activities of the day. Hormones are secreted during sleep, and, during sleep, the body renews the mental energy used up all day thinking and creating.
How Much Sleep do Children Need?
Sleep is critical for babies, toddlers and children. Just like adults, babies and children need a break from the day to restore energy. During sleep, children secrete growth hormone, which allows them to grow and thrive. Sleep patterns among this age group vary depending upon the age of the child. Newborns typically sleep around the clock for an average of 11 to 18 hours per 24-hour period. A newborn may even need to be woken for feedings and then will quickly fall back into a sleep. After two months of age, sleep patterns begin to emerge. Infants generally sleep for nine to 12 hours during the night, with a few naps throughout the day.
Toddlers can be expected to sleep 12 to 14 hours per 24-hour day. This would include a one to three hour nap, which should not be too close to bedtime. Preschool age children usually give up daytime naps and should sleep 11 to 13 hours each night. Children ages five to 12 need ten to 11 hours a night. Poor or inadequate sleep can lead to mood swings, behavioral problems and cognitive problems that impact on the ability to learn.
The Latest Research on Teenagers and Sleep
Leading sleep researcher, Mary Carskadon, PhD of Brown University, has studied teenagers and sleep. Her studies show that teenagers need close to ten hours of sleep per night. Teens average seven and a half hours per night. With early school start times, homework, sports and part-time jobs, many teenagers report difficulty getting the right amount of sleep. In her studies, Dr. Carskadon lists concerns of depression and drowsiness behind the wheel, as two dangerous consequences of teens who don't get enough rest.
Adults and Sleep
Most adults need about eight hours of sleep for optimal health. However, as adults age, sleep patterns change again. Older people report more difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep. Many researchers believe that older people have a difficult time with sleep due to physical or emotional health conditions and the medications that are used to treat those conditions.
Medical issues such as hypertension, diabetes, GERD (gastroenesophageal reflux disease), Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis are known to cause sleep problems. Depression and anxiety among the elderly may also lead to sleep problems. Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter medications, further contribute to sleep issues. Seniors should talk to their physicians about a change in medicine, or changing the time of day the medication is taken, if they experience difficulty with sleep.
It is important at any age to respond to the body's need for sleep. The Sleep Foundation offers a variety of tips and help for people to achieve the balance needed between wakefulness and sleep time.
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