Sleep

How much sleep does my child need?

The amount of sleep your child needs will depend on their age. But it is important to remember that every child is different. Research suggests that on average children need:

• New-born (up to 3 months): 11-18 hours every 24 hours
• Babies (3-11 months): 9-12 hours at night plus 1-4 naps of between 30 minutes and 2 hours
• Toddlers (1-3 years): 12-14 hours
• Pre-schoolers (3-5 years) 11-13 hours
• School-age (5-12 years) 10-11 hours

Bedtime Routine

A good bedtime routine can be the key to a good night’s sleep. Babies and children are more relaxed if they know what’s coming next, so establishing a routine will help them to relax and fall asleep easily.

Stick to your routine as much as you can, even when you’re not at home. It can help a child to settle in unfamiliar surroundings. It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you try to keep it the same every night.

You might want to include:

• A bath
• Cleaning teeth
• Changing nappies and putting on pyjamas
• Saying goodnight to family members, pets and favourite toys
• Reading a story
• Having a cuddle
• Playing gentle music.
• Remember, the bedtime routine can be good for parents too – it’s a special time to spend with your child.