Sleep is Important for Health - How Much is needed?

We still are not sure what sleep does. Some think that it is the time that memories are consolidated; others that this is the time our brain processes its waste products. The brain is a complex organ that uses about 25% of our daily calorie intake!

A recent study on infants showed that those who has naps of more than 30 minutes had significantly improved memory of recent events. In teenagers, more sleep led to better results in high school.

The growing body needs it sleep. We should be sure that our children get adequate rest.

How much sleep is necessary? The national sleep council, using whatever research is available has presented the following recommendations:

 • Newborns: 14–17 hours a day (previous recommendation: 12–18 hours)
• Infants: 12–15 hours (previously, 14–15)
• Toddlers: 11–14 hours (previously, 12–14)
• Preschoolers: 10–13 hours (previously, 11–13)
• School-aged children: 9–11 hours (previously, 10–11)
• Teenagers: 8–10 hours (previously, 8.5–9.5)
• Young adults (up to age 25): 7–9 hours
• Adults (26–64 years): 7–9 hours
• Older adults (65+): 7–8 hours
The document also includes a wider range of sleep duration that "may be appropriate" (versus "recommended") for some individuals in each age group (e.g., 11–19 hours in newborns).

We still are not sure what sleep does. Some think that it is the time that memories are consolidated; others that this is the time our brain processes its waste products. The brain is a complex organ that uses about 25% of our daily calorie intake!

A recent study on infants showed that those who has naps of more than 30 minutes had significantly improved memory of recent events. In teenagers, more sleep led to better results in high school.

The growing body needs it sleep. We should be sure that our children get adequate rest.

How much sleep is necessary? The national sleep council, using whatever research is available has presented the following recommendations:

 • Newborns: 14–17 hours a day (previous recommendation: 12–18 hours)
• Infants: 12–15 hours (previously, 14–15)
• Toddlers: 11–14 hours (previously, 12–14)
• Preschoolers: 10–13 hours (previously, 11–13)
• School-aged children: 9–11 hours (previously, 10–11)
• Teenagers: 8–10 hours (previously, 8.5–9.5)
• Young adults (up to age 25): 7–9 hours
• Adults (26–64 years): 7–9 hours
• Older adults (65+): 7–8 hours
The document also includes a wider range of sleep duration that "may be appropriate" (versus "recommended") for some individuals in each age group (e.g., 11–19 hours in newborns).