How Much Sleep Do You Need for Each Age?

Recommended sleep times are different depending on age and are typically broken down into nine age groups, from 0 to 65 years old. Depending on a person’s circumstances, in some cases sleeping an hour more or less than the general range may be acceptable. Recommended sleep per age group is:

– Newborn: 0-3 months old — 14-17 hours
– Infant: 4-11 months old — 12-15 hours
– Toddler: 1-2 years old — 11-14 hours
– Preschool: 3-5 years old — 10-13 hours
– School-age: 6-13 years old — 9-11 hours
– Teen: 14-17 years old — 8-10 hours
– Young Adult: 18-25 years old — 7-9 hours
– Adult: 26-64 years old — 7-9 hours
– Older Adult: 65 or more years old — 7-8 hours

Somewhere in the range of seven to nine hours of sleep is normal and healthy for most adults between the ages of 18 and 64, with the median being 8 hours. Anything over this number is typically considered oversleeping, but there are special situations where it may not be, such as when sleep deprived. Sleeping for longer than eight hours a night can lead to health complications, and it may also be a sign of an underlying condition.

Sleep quality and the time a person wakes up are directly correlated to each other. In order to determine the best time to wake up, it is vital to first understand how much sleep an average person would need. Our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, helps our body and brain slow down as it gets late at night and invigorates us with energy as the sun rises in the morning. After waking up and being exposed to sunlight, the brain relays a message to the body that results in an increase in temperature and stimulation of the metabolism. Therefore, many people wake up when the sun rises and go to bed when it sets, but this may not be ideal for everyone, especially people living in higher latitudes where there is more daylight in the summer and less in the winter. What is most important is to wake up at the same time every day and have a consistent sleep-wake cycle, as this promotes overall health and creates a regular schedule.

Sleeping too much can impact the brain in several ways, but it also affects other organs as well, such as the heart. One effect oversleeping has on the brain is in relation to emotional regulation; it can be harder to control one’s emotions when oversleeping, leading to mood swings and irritability. This can also lead to depression, as sleeping too much (or too little) is linked with many types of depression. In addition to this, oversleeping can cause mental sluggishness and trouble concentrating. Furthermore, oversleeping has a negative effect on heart health; sleeping more than 8 hours a night increases the chances of fatal heart disease by 34 percent.

The sleep team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders can help you improve your quality of sleep. Call us today to book an appointment with our sleep specialist, or visit one of our locations; we serve patients from all across the United States and have clinics in Bloomington IL, Peoria – Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI. We look forward to serving you!