It doesn’t matter whether they’re a few days old or a few decades old – all humans need enough sleep within a 24-hour period to develop, grow and function. What does vary though is the amount of sleep we need, and that is determined by our age. As a very general rule, the younger we are, the more sleep we need.

I’ve lost count of the number of families who have told me their baby “hates sleep” or their toddler “doesn’t need that much sleep”. It makes sense in theory – if sleep is a basic human need and we need a certain amount each day to thrive, why do our little ones not just sleep more? The truth is that these little ones DO need more sleep, but there are roadblocks getting in their way. How do I know? Because personality or temperament don’t influence how much sleep a person needs. Their age does.

The optimal amount of sleep needed every 24 hours is very similar for all 3-month-old babies, just as it is for all 4-month-olds, all 5-month-olds, and all 6-month-olds. If a baby sleeps 2 hours less each day than all the others in their age group, it doesn’t mean they’re the exception to the rule. It means something’s getting in their way and making sleep more of a challenge for them. And when they do finally get the extra 2 hours they’ve been missing out on, they’ll wake up feeling much more well rested and happier. 

This idea doesn’t just apply to babies and children – it’s relevant to adults too. All adults need around 8 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period to function at their best. Many of us don’t actually get enough sleep, but we keep going because we feel like we have no other choice. Then what happens is the 5 or 6 hours of sleep we do get starts to feel ‘normal’. In reality though, we’re sleep-deprived and allowing our bodies and brains to remain in an unhealthy state.   

It’s a common misconception that if you keep a baby or child up all day, they’ll sleep all night. Unfortunately, they don’t work like that! During sleep, our brains are busy managing and storing what we learned while we were awake, and because our little ones are constantly learning, naps during the day are an important part of this process. As your baby or child grows, the length of time they can stay awake before they need to sleep again will increase, and they’ll begin to sleep more deeply for longer stretches of time. Eventually, they’ll get all the sleep they need overnight.        

The information in this Blog Article relates to healthy babies and children with no undiagnosed, untreated medical issues or concerns. If you have any concerns about the health of the baby or child in your care, please see their GP or paediatrician.

For more sensible, straightforward, safe advice and resources on getting your family the sleep you all deserve, explore my website – sleepbysteph.com.au