Better Sleep for Kids

What is a normal sleep schedule that my child should be following? How many hours of sleep per day is normal? How can I get my child to sleep better at night?

This is a huge topic of conversation and it's also so important for not only the health and wellbeing of our children, but also for the sleepy caregivers getting up at night with them.

I'm Dr. Kia Nelson. I'm a pediatrician at Sauk Prairie Healthcare's Wisconsin Heights Clinic, and in this video, I'll share some tips on how to improve sleep in our little ones.

It is important to keep in mind though that each kid is different with their sleep needs. So what works for one family will not always work for another.

Okay, here we go.

Starting with newborns, they are sleepy little bubs and typically sleep between 14 to 18 hours on and off throughout the day. Babies don't have sleep cycles until around four to six months of age, so it is normal for a newborn to wake up every few hours throughout the day and night. That is why any sort of formal sleep training won't be very effective this early on, but instead, you can focus on trying to keep daytime for playing and nighttime for sleeping. Things like keeping the nighttime environment quiet, boring, and dark will signal to them that it is time for sleep, not for play.

For older infants, it is still normal for them to sleep quite a bit, around 12 to 16 hours per day, which includes two to four naps during the day. Unfortunately, for us parents, it is still developmentally normal for our infants to be waking up throughout the night. At this age, you can start focusing more on teaching your baby to self-soothe by placing them to bed when they're drowsy but not asleep. Also, remember to avoid leaving a milk bottle in their crib with them as this can increase the risk of cavities and potentially ear infections.

When looking at toddlers, they need about 11 to 12 hours of sleep per day, which will typically include one to two naps. For this age group, you may start getting more
resistance to naps and bedtime, so that is why it is crucial to keep the bedtime routine consistent. A routine can include anything that is calming and the same every night, such as putting on pajamas and brushing teeth, reading a book, and then tucking into bed.

It is also important to make sure bedtime isn't too late in the evening. If you see kids starting to rub their eyes and yawn, then it may already be too late and you may want to move up bedtime the next night, even if it's just 15 minutes earlier.

For preschoolers, they usually get between 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day, with many of them starting to phase out that nap. It is important to make sure the bedroom is a safe, familiar, and comfortable place for them, so it makes the separation during bedtime easier. Having comfort objects like stuffies in the room and decorations that they enjoy can help make it a more positive space. Playing in their room during the day can also build those positive associations as well.

Now onto the older kids and teens. Grade school aged children need between 9 to 12 hours of sleep per night, while teens typically need between 8 and 10 hours.

For these ages, it is crucial to make sure they keep off of their screens one hour before bedtime and to instead spend that time doing a calming activity, such as reading, talking with family, puzzles, or crafting.

So that is a whirlwind look at what is normal and what is not normal when it comes to our little one's sleep patterns.

Hopefully you were able to learn a trick or two to help your child, and also importantly, you as a parent catch a few more Z's at night.

If you found this video helpful, please like and share with your friends. And if you're looking for a doctor for your child, come see us here at Wisconsin Heights Clinic.