Sleep is an essential function that allows your mind and body to recharge which results in you feeling refreshed and alert when you wake up. Getting a good amount of sleep also helps your body to remain healthy and fight off diseases. Without enough sleep, your brain will not be able to function properly. People of different ages need different amounts of sleep. Continue reading to find out how much sleep you or your loved one should be getting.
Children
Studies show that infants between the ages of 4 and 12 months need 12-16 hours of sleep a day including naps. Toddlers 1-2 years of age need 11-14 hours of sleep including naps. Preschoolers 3-5 years of age need 10-13 hours of sleep including naps. Grade-schoolers 6-12 years of age need 9-12 hours of sleep and teens 13-18 years of age need 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours on a regular basis.
Having good sleep durations at these ages can lead to having a better attention span, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. Getting an inadequate amount of sleep at this age can be associated with an increase in injuries, hypertension, obesity, and depression.
Adults
Seven hours of sleep a night is what most adults between the ages of 19 and 64 need. A lack of sleep can lead to serious repercussions. These repercussions can, in turn, leave people vulnerable to attention lapses, reduced cognition, delayed reactions and mood shifts.
Adults who do not receive enough sleep at night can start to implement some positive lifestyle and sleep habits in order to get adequate sleep. These can include establishing a good bedtime routine and sticking to it each night, making sure your room is a comfortable temperature, having a comfortable mattress and pillow, refraining from tobacco at any time, and exercising during the day.
Older Adults
Healthy adults ages 65 and older need seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to feel rested and alert. However, sleep patterns may change as you get older. These changes can include trouble sleeping, getting tired earlier or waking up earlier or in the middle of the night, and not being able to fall asleep or experiencing insomnia (a condition in which falling asleep or staying asleep is harder).
Getting enough sleep is important so your mind and body will be able to function properly during the day. Different ages need different amounts of sleep in order to further their brain development and make sure that they are able to learn as much as possible.