Its’s sleeping time.
Newborns (0–3 months) sleep for 14–17 hours each day.
Getting a good night’s sleep is vital for our bodies in order to function adequately, but how much sleep does one really need?
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), there are different sleeping hours for every age group. As a result of their latest research, they have updated their daily sleeping pattern data as follows:
– Newborns (0–3 months): Sleep range narrowed to 14–17 hours.
– Infants (4–11 months): Sleep range widened by two hours, to 12–15 hours.
– Toddlers (1–2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour, to 11–14 hours.
– Preschoolers (3–5): Sleep range widened by one hour, to 10–13 hours.
– School age children (6–13): Sleep range widened by one hour, to 9–11 hours.
– Teenagers (14–17): Sleep range widened by one hour, to 8–10 hours.
– Younger adults (18–25): Sleep range is 7–9 hours.
– Adults (26–64): Sleep range remains 7–9 hours.
– Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7–8 hours.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in addition to age, other factors can affect how many hours of sleep you need. For example:
– Pregnancy. Changes in the body during early pregnancy can increase the need for sleep.
– Aging. Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults. As you get older, however, your sleeping patterns might change. Older adults tend to sleep more lightly and for shorter periods of time than younger adults.
– Previous sleep deprivation. If you’re sleep deprived, the amount of sleep you need increases.
– Sleep quality. If your sleep is frequently interrupted, you’re not getting quality sleep. The quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity.
Some people claim to feel rested on just a few hours of sleep a night, but their performance is likely to be affected. Research shows that people who sleep so little over many nights don’t perform as well on complex mental tasks as do people who get closer to seven hours of sleep a night.
Most importantly, make sleep a priority. You must schedule sleep like any other daily activity, so put it on your ‘to-do list’ and cross it off every night. But don’t make it the thing you do only after everything else is done – stop doing other things so you get the sleep you need.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
