The Sleep Lady on Quality and Quantity Sleep

Kids need to get the right amount and the right kind of sleep. Quality counts along with quantity!

To give your kid quality sleep, you want to work towards sleep that is:

• The right amount: See average sleep requirements below.
• The right kind: Largely uninterrupted, no feeding (unless physically needed) and motionless. Motion keeps the brain in light sleep and is not as restorative to the brain.
• The right timing: Consistent wake up times, nap times and bedtimes that are in sync with your child's natural sleep windows.
• Undisturbed by medical problems: Such as asthma, allergies, reflux or obstructive sleep apnea or other physical sleep disorders.

As far as quantity goes, kids need different amounts of sleep at different ages. Here's a chart with the average sleep requirements for kids 3 months to 5 years old (remember these are averages and you have about one hour wiggle room off the average):

• 3 months: 10 hours at night, 5 napping hours per day (3 naps) = total 15 hours
• 6 months: 11 hours at night, 3.25 napping hours per day (2-3 naps) = total 14.25 hours
• 9 months: 11 hours at night, 3 napping hours per day (2 naps) = total 14 hours
• 12 months: 11.25 hours at night, 2.5 napping hours per day (2 naps) = total 13.75 hours
• 18 months: 11.25 hours at night, 2.25 napping hours per day (1 nap) = total 13.5 hours
• 2 years: 11 hours at night, 2 nappng hours per day (1 nap) = total 13 hours
• 3 years: 10.5 hours at night, 1.5 napping hours per day (1 nap) = total 12 hours
• 4 years: 11.5 hours at night, no naps = total 11.5 hours
• 5 years: 11 hours at night, no naps = total 11 hours

Most parents are shocked by these averages and quality requirements and find their kids aren't getting close to right amount and/or kind of sleep that they need. Your job as a parent is to make sure your kid is getting both good quality sleep (i.e. motionless, uninterrupted, consistent and healthy) and enough quantity sleep so that he's rested and able to grow and learn at the incredible rate that he needs to!