Sleep guidelines for children. Children's sleep norms in different age periods: a detailed description

The child's regimen consists in performing certain actions during the day strictly on time. Like all adults, a child needs sleep, nutrition, wakefulness, the development of intellectual and physical skills, hygiene procedures and natural needs.

Every baby from birth already has some instincts. For example, newborns feel the need for sleep and nutrition after a certain period of time, but any child is endowed with his own biorhythms.

Each child has individual biorhythms that are not always convenient for adults.

It will become much easier for you if you stick to a certain schedule, taking into account the individual characteristics of the baby. This will not require much effort, but it will bring considerable benefits to others and to the baby himself.

The daily routine of the baby

In the first time after birth, the baby spends most of the time in a dream. The daily routine of a child up to a year old is distinguished by a constant character, so it is much easier for a mother to adjust her time and adapt to it. What does a baby usually do during the day? What should the daily routine for a baby look like? Let's try to answer these questions that concern young parents.

morning hours

Every family has a custom to spend the morning in their own way. In one of the morning hours, the baby is actively awake. He tends to play, smile, get acquainted with the world around him. From infancy, the baby must be taught morning hygiene: the procedure for washing and changing clothes. Morning time is well suited for gymnastics, massage, as well as taking air baths with a crumb.

The signal that the baby has played enough and is tired is the desire to climb onto the mother’s arms and cuddle up to her chest. The first morning feeding falls between 5 and 9 o'clock. The newborn gets food and goes to bed, and at this time the mother has a free minute.

daytime hours

Usually during the daytime, the baby goes to bed twice, the duration of sleep is from 2 to 4 hours. While the newborn is awake, he continues to learn about the world around him. If the baby is satisfied with everything, he is happy and behaves calmly. As soon as the baby becomes uninteresting, he begins to act up, wanting to attract attention. It will be better if the baby spends his sleep in the daytime on the street and breathes fresh air, and at this time you can enjoy talking with friends or family, read or just relax.

Evening hours

Being active during the day, by the evening the baby is noticeably tired. Evening time is desirable to spend in a relaxed family atmosphere. Immediately after birth, the baby must be bathed in the evenings. Over time, these water procedures will become a signal for sleep for the baby. The optimal evening time for bathing is 8-9 hours 30 minutes before feeding.

It is better for mom to prepare for sleep in advance, because after water procedures, the baby will express a desire to be with her, to feel her warmth and native smell. After the baby falls asleep, so that he feels your presence, sit with him for a little more time, and then quietly put him in a separate bed.

night hours

At night, depending on age, a newborn may wake up once or twice to eat. If the baby behaves restlessly and does not fall asleep in any way, exclude possible causes:

1. Too light and noisy. The baby is able to fall asleep only if it is quiet and calm around. If possible, the computer and TV should not work, bright lights should be on. For good sleep, the baby must fall asleep in a comfortable environment.
2. The kid got hungry. If the baby is full, he will not wake up at night. If the baby often gets up at night and needs to eat, tell the pediatrician about it, he may advise you to supplement it with a mixture.
3. Hot or cold. The baby needs to create comfortable conditions for him. Make sure the room is not too hot. If the baby, on the contrary, freezes at night, freeing himself from the blanket, dress him warmer.
4. The clothes got wet. At night, the baby should be in a diaper so that he is dry and comfortable to sleep.

Baby's daily routine from birth to a year - table

The child’s daily routine is formed by the mother, based on the individual characteristics of the baby, and you can simply navigate the table. The time of the procedure can always be changed, taking into account not only the preferences of the baby, but also the interests of the whole family.

Based on the data presented in the table, we can say the following:

1. Sleep duration is approximately 20 hours per day.
2. The baby eats and begins to wake up. As you get older, your active time increases. During the period of wakefulness, you need to play with the baby, do massage and gymnastics, and have time to carry out hygiene procedures.
3. Starting from the third month of life, the child spends less time sleeping and more and more awake. Sleep takes about 16-18 hours a day. During the day, the baby eats 6 times every 3 hours and once at night (we recommend reading:).
4. At 3-6 months, the child is given about 15-18 hours of sleep per day, at night it takes about 10 hours of sleep. The number of feedings is reduced to 5 times a day and once at night.
5. At 6-9 months, the baby sleeps 3 times for two hours during the daytime, and the time of wakefulness increases to 2.5 hours. The baby needs to be fed 5 times a day every 4 hours. The last time the baby can get food late in the evening, thanks to which he will be able to sleep the whole night. Approximately 8 hours are allotted for a night's sleep.
6. At 9-12 months, the baby goes to bed twice during the day. The duration of sleep at this time reaches 2.5 hours.
7. Walking must be done with the crumbs 2 times a day for two hours.
8. During the first year of life, the regimen of the child has to undergo changes. At first, the little one sleeps 2 times in the daytime, and closer to the year only once. In a year, a child's sleep lasts about 10-12 hours a day. If you follow the pediatrician's advice and do everything right, then in one year the child's daily routine should be approximately as follows: feeding - 4 times a day, sleep - 2 hours, night sleep - 10 hours (without waking up for feeding).

Advantages of the clock mode

1. If you adhere to the feeding regimen, this will help protect the baby from allergies and diathesis in infancy. In order for your baby to be healthy and always in a great mood, he needs to eat right. Children who eat on a schedule rarely suffer from digestive and metabolic problems.
2. Difficult moments, such as teething or illness, will be much easier for the baby to cope with.
3. If you perform certain procedures for the baby (walking, sleeping, morning toilet) at the same time, it will be easier for you to build your routine in such a way that you can manage all household chores (grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.). d.).
4. The kid should develop intellectual and physical skills. Parents can ask for help in raising children from close relatives (grandparents, sisters). So the little one will be able to feel the love of all family members, and they, in turn, will have a great time.
5. If you follow your child's daily routine, don't miss any important moments. The development of the baby will occur according to his age. He will be able to walk on the street for the required amount of time. Thanks to the clock mode, your little one will always be full, dry, clean and rested.

What is the best way to plan your daily routine?

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

When planning a daily routine for a child, do not forget to take into account the peculiarities of his biorhythms. Among children there are both "larks" and "owls". Some like to get up early and stay up late, and some vice versa. Some people have a big appetite and some people have a smaller one. Some children are too active and mobile, because of which they spend a lot of energy, and some like peace and spend much less energy. This must be taken into account when drawing up a daily routine for a child.

To begin with, take a closer look at the little one - what does he do while awake, when he goes to bed and after what time does he ask to eat? See how the baby sleeps at night, and if he gets up, how often? Based on the information received, try to perform all the necessary manipulations at the same time: feed, walk, put to bed, carry out morning and evening toilet.

How to teach your child to follow the daily routine

1. It will take a long time to get the crumbs to stick to the schedule. In the first months of life, children's organs and systems are not yet fully developed. Biorhythms are also in the process of being formed, which can cause them to confuse day with night, sleep and wake times. Your task is to help the baby learn to perceive the surrounding reality correctly.
2. Watch how often the baby asks for food, what time she goes to bed during the day and at night.
3. Based on the data obtained, sketch out the child's daily routine on paper.
4. Try as soon as possible so that the baby eats and goes to bed at the same time. This is the main task of the regimen of the child.
5. For the next two to three weeks, continue to stick to your chosen schedule. During this period, the little one should get used to the current routine. The result depends on the individual characteristics of the child: someone gets used to it faster, someone slower. On average, 8 weeks is a good indicator.
6. It is important to know that a breastfed baby will ask to eat more often than an artificial one, since breast milk is easier and faster to digest than an adapted formula. In children on artificial feeding, pauses will reach up to 3-4 hours.
7. Try to wake up in the morning at the scheduled hours. If the baby had a restless night - this is not a reason to break the schedule, gently pick it up, spend the morning toilet and feed it.
8. Games, sleep, walks, bathing and feeding, try to do strictly at the scheduled hours. The result will not keep you waiting, and your little one will do everything with great desire exactly when it is needed.
9. After about three weeks, try not to breastfeed on demand. If after 1.5 hours he again reaches for his chest, give him some water - perhaps the little one just wanted to drink.
10. At night, you can read a book or sing a song. If the baby woke up at night, do not talk to him loudly so that he understands that he needs to continue sleeping.

Doctor Komarovsky's advice in choosing a daily routine for babies

The most important thing, Dr. Komarovsky believes, is for parents to be able to achieve a child's day regimen in the first month of life. In the following months, this will make it much easier to establish a schedule for sleep, feeding and wakefulness of the crumbs. What does Komarovsky advise?:

1. Before changing the baby's life schedule, observe what regimen the newborn adheres to, and keep this in mind (we recommend reading:).
2. Pay more attention to feeding. A breastfed toddler eats every two hours, and artificial feeding should be done less frequently, otherwise the crumbs will become overweight.
3. If the baby sleeps well at night, he will be active during the daytime. To achieve this, monitor the temperature and humidity in the room where the baby sleeps. Do not wrap the baby too much, let the skin breathe.
4. Patience is the key to success. Do not rush things, the body of the newborn will gradually get used to the routine.

Komarovsky prefers the child's regimen by months. So it is easier for the baby to adapt to the changed conditions. Do not forget - it is necessary that the schedule you choose is suitable not only for the child, but for the whole family.

What to do if a child confuses day with night?

Some children are active at night and spend most of their time sleeping during the day. This phenomenon is called "inverted graph".

What actions should be taken if the baby confuses day with night? First, check with your pediatrician. Usually, the doctor advises giving the newborn sedatives in the form of infusion of motherwort or valerian. Make every effort to get your baby back to the normal routine of a child's day before the year.

How to return the child to the correct daily routine?

1. Try to find out the reason why this happened. Pay attention, because of what exactly the baby cannot fall asleep. Perhaps he does not feel well: his tummy, throat or ear hurts, his temperature rises. If this is confirmed, seek help from a doctor and follow his instructions.
2. Make sure your baby is comfortable and comfortable in your crib. Bed linen should be made of natural material. It is not necessary to put a pillow or pick up a very low one.
3. After putting the baby in the crib, look for wrinkles in his clothes, because of which he may feel uncomfortable. Choose pajamas for the baby only from cotton or linen fabric, with the seams outward.
4. At night, the baby is best - if he moves his arms and legs, he can wake up from this.
5. Every day in the baby's room, do wet cleaning, and also stably ventilate. The normal temperature for a newborn is +20 or +22 °C. The baby may wake up and cry if it freezes or sweats.
6. Try to make sure that the baby is engaged in active activities during the daytime.
7. Strictly adhere to the chosen mode of the child. Pay special attention to sleep and wakefulness. If the little one in the morning or afternoon spends more than the allotted time in a dream, wake him up.
8. When bathing in water, you can add a decoction or infusion that has a sedative effect. First, seek the advice of a doctor.
9. If the baby woke up at night, do not turn on the light and talk loudly.
10. Make sure the little one is not hungry. Feed him for the last time between 23:00 and 24:00.

It is in your power to return the baby to the correct schedule. It won't take one day. The main thing is patience, and everything will work out. All children should sleep at night. This is what you should achieve from your restless little one.

The active stage of development of the body requires more time to rest. Babies sleep about 20 hours a day. Closer to the year, the standard is significantly reduced. The need for daytime sleep disappears only at school age. In fact, the difference between children's and adult indicators in high school disappears completely. Relevant norms subject to the criteria for healthy sleep. Otherwise, you are more likely to experience sleep deprivation symptoms despite resting for the recommended amount of time.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed adequate sleep as one of the most important criteria for health. The decision is substantiated by studies conducted in various parts of the world. According to scientists, if observed, the work of most body systems improves:

Regular lack of sleep threatens with dangerous consequences.

Attention! Engaged in the treatment of insomnia (insomnia) doctor-somnologist. Appeal to other specialists may be required if the failure occurred due to somatic diseases.

Sleep patterns in childhood

The norms of sleep and wakefulness of the child are approximate indicators given for the purpose of guidance. There is no need to forcefully "adjust" the schedule. If the baby feels good, falling asleep and waking up 1-2 hours earlier than the scheduled time, then you should not worry. It is advisable to consult a doctor if significant abnormalities and regular awakenings are identified. The sleep rate table for children will help you navigate:

Babies under 18 months

Due to the adaptation of the body to the external environment and active development, it takes about 20 hours for newborns to sleep in 4-8 approaches. The period of wakefulness varies from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours. Such a long rest is typical for a baby up to 6 months old.

The sleep rate for children after a year is rapidly decreasing. By 18 months, a more stable schedule is developed. Rest takes a total of 14 hours. At lunchtime, a quiet hour begins, equal to 60-120 minutes. The rest of the time takes the period of wakefulness.

Children 1.5-3 years old

From 1.5 to 3 years, the previous schedule is maintained, but the rest time is slightly reduced. For 1 daytime sleep (1.5-2 hours) and 1 nighttime (10-12 hours) it takes a total of 12-14 hours.

In connection with growing up and active development, this age category has its own advantages and disadvantages. A plus is considered to be close to an adult schedule of rest. Kids go to bed at about 21 and fall asleep no later than 11. The downside of a more conscious period is the reluctance to sleep at lunchtime, which can knock down the child's daily biorhythms.

Preschoolers 3-7 years old

Shortly before school, children sleep at about 10-12 o'clock. The hour is relevant for elementary grades. Extra rest helps the child recuperate and adjust to the new schedule.

Dangerous preschool period lack of sleep. Children become more active.

Advice! Due to the addition of an extra load in connection with the imminent entry to school, the likelihood of a failure in daily biorhythms and the manifestation of signs of insomnia increases. Parents need to ensure that the time of bedtime and awakening is in line with the regulations.

Night sleep patterns in different age groups up to 18 years

With age, the need for daytime sleep disappears. Children are switching to a "one-time" rest mode. The norm table looks like this:

Attention! From the age of 10, the quiet hour is finally canceled. Children are already accustomed to school and are quite capable of fully recovering overnight. The emphasis shifts to compliance with the age standard, especially before exams and tests.

Violation of regulations: consequences

The child should go to bed and wake up strictly according to the schedule. Only small deviations from generally accepted norms are allowed. If lack of sleep occurs regularly, then the likelihood of complications is high. The following signs will help you recognize insomnia:

Advice! Timely measures taken will help to avoid consequences. Parents should keep track of the number of hours devoted to daytime and nighttime rest. If the schedule is fully observed, then the problem may be the lack of comfortable conditions for sleep.

Factors that help maintain healthy sleep in children

A proper rest is possible only with proper nutrition, moderate physical activity and competent preparation of the room for sleep.

Failure to comply with any of the points will cause the development of insomnia.

The famous pediatrician Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich, to help parents, compiled a list of recommendations:

The sleep of a child (See) differs from the sleep of an adult in a more rapid change in the slow and fast phases. Adults fall into deep sleep faster than children. That is why a baby who has just fallen asleep in his arms wakes up when he is transferred to the crib. In babies, the superficial phase of sleep during falling asleep lasts about 20 minutes and only then is replaced by deep sleep.

A child cannot be in a state of deep sleep all night like an adult (about 6 hours out of 8). This is due to the inability to satisfy their own needs. If the child stayed almost all night in the deep sleep phase, he would not react to the resulting hunger or wet diapers. Therefore, frequent waking up at night is the norm of sleep for children. They serve as a kind of control over the state of a small developing organism - whether it is hot or cold, whether it wants to eat, etc. As it grows, the sleep phases will lengthen, and the child will wake up less at night. The child’s clothes also play an important role, the more convenient and comfortable it is, the better the child sleeps, and you can also pamper your baby and buy him colorful kigurumi bunny pajamas that will cheer him up day and night.

Depending on age, pediatricians are guided by the following sleep norms for children:

from 1 to 2 months. - 18 hours
3 to 4 months – 17-18 hours
5 to 6 months - 16 hours
from 7 to 9 months. - 15 hours
from 10 months up to a year - 13 hours
From a year to a year and a half sleep is divided into 3 parts: night (10-11 hours), the first daytime - about 2-2.5 hours, the second daytime - 1.5 hours
One and a half to 2 years night sleep is 10-11 hours, daytime - about 3 hours
From 2 to 3 years night sleep remains unchanged, and daytime sleep decreases to 2-2.5 hours.
From 3 to 7 years old night sleep is shortened to 10 hours, daytime - to two.

Some doctors believe that after 7 years the need for daytime sleep disappears, the duration of night sleep should be at least 8-9 hours. Other pediatricians are increasing sleep rates for school-age children:

from 7 to 8 years - up to 12 hours a day
from 9 to 11 years old - 10 hours a day
from 12 to 15 years old - 9 hours a day

1) ventilate the room before going to bed and provide fresh air during sleep

2) create a natural noise background during daytime sleep. In other words, it is not necessary to achieve dead silence in the house if your child has fallen asleep. Talk, use a washing machine - getting used to these sounds, the child will not wake up at the slightest rustle and the quality of sleep will improve significantly.

3) provide the child with comfortable clothes for sleeping. If the baby (See) does not like to cover himself with a blanket and constantly throws it off in his sleep, put on warm pajamas with socks for him.

4) take care of a comfortable mattress and pillow. The mattress should be even, fairly hard and dense. Newborns do not need a pillow, and in older children it should not be too voluminous.

5) in case of overexcitation of the child before a night's sleep, try to calm him down: take him in your arms, shake him, read a fairy tale. A familiar situation: a couple of hours before bedtime, the baby begins to scream and act up? Psychologists call this increased activity before bed. Under the influence of daily events in a fragile nervous system, a failure may occur. To help your child relax before bed, you can take a warm bath.

The given norms of children's sleep are standard. However, each child is unique and the peculiarities of his nervous system can shorten or lengthen the duration of sleep. If your child is healthy and shows good daily activity, you should not worry about sleep, which is slightly less or more than the specified norms. If the daily sleep of the child is significantly beyond the specified, it is worth consulting with a pediatrician and a neurologist.

Sleep is a very important part of everyone's life. Important and quite lengthy. It is believed that the average person spends a third of his life in a state of sleep. Starting from childhood, parents monitor the child's wakefulness regime and the duration of his sleep. These actions provide the body with proper rest, restoration of strength and energy.

The norm of sleep for children 3-4 years old. Day and night sleep

In children under 5-7 years of age, sleep is divided into daytime and nighttime. Daytime sleep no less positively affects the baby's body and his psychological state. However, the child does not always agree to go to bed during the day. The older he is, the more difficult it is to put him down. No need to force and yell at the baby. You should try to persuade him, explain this need and create the most favorable conditions for sleep.

These conditions include the microclimate in the room (humidity 50-65% and temperature 18-20 degrees) and the degree of illumination of the room. Before going to bed, it is advisable to go for a walk and increase physical activity so that fatigue and the need to sleep appear. The atmosphere at home should be calm, you can put a light one before going to bed (preferably classics, sounds of nature or a lullaby). Another proven remedy is to read a book before bed or listen to an audio version of a fairy tale. The same methods are applicable in order to put the child in the evening.

The benefits of sleep

Consequences of poor sleep

Children have this peculiarity: if they want to sleep, they cannot calm themselves down. The child is very noisy and overly active. He indulges and refuses to go to bed himself. Can cry for no apparent reason, requires constant attention from parents, asks to be held. This is a very unhealthy condition that can lead to negative consequences - the child may become more withdrawn, there is a feeling of insecurity in their own abilities and, as a result, sometimes there is a problem of adaptation in children's educational institutions.

Poor sleep negatively affects the formation of a normal nervous system. It has also been linked to growth retardation. This is due to the fact that growth hormones are produced during sleep. No wonder parents tell their children that they grow up in their sleep and therefore need to sleep a lot.

It is impossible to imagine any human organism without sleep. Sleep is a natural physiological process that everyone needs. How many hours on average does an adult need to sleep for excellent health and fruitful work? So, on the agenda is sleep, sleep norms and its effect on the body.

How bad is lack of sleep

Lack of sleep is an insidious thing that negatively affects not only mood and ability to work, but also general health. Here are some of the dangerous consequences that develop as a result of chronic lack of sleep:

1. Violation of cognitive functions - a broad term refers to a decrease in mental activity, as a result - a deterioration in memory and attention. Most accidents, both on the road, at work and at home, according to statistics, occur precisely during such periods when a person is not able to fully control the events taking place around him.
2. Weakened immunity - lack of sleep inevitably leads to the vulnerability of the immune system, significantly increasing the risk of getting sick. This fact is due to the fact that in the absence of proper sleep, the cytokine protein (the body's natural defense against viruses and infections), which is necessary for the correct functioning of organs and systems, is not produced. Sleep heals - this should not be forgotten.
3. Eating disorders - frequent stay in a state of lack of sleep leads to problems with being overweight. All this is due to the stimulation of the production of the hunger hormone - ghrelin. A tired brain that does not get rest requires “feeding”, as a result of which there is a constant feeling of malnutrition and extra pounds at the waist.
4. Reduced productivity - lack of sleep makes a person lazy, slow, lack of initiative. Any work is done much more slowly, taking even more strength and energy. As a result, a person loses the craving for motivation, development of himself and his business.
5. Bad mood - a sleepy person is more susceptible to the negative influence of the environment: he is quick-tempered, touchy and irritable.
6. Bad appearance - bruises and bags under the eyes - another unpleasant "bonus" of lack of sleep.
7. The risk of developing serious diseases - the systematic lack of proper sleep increases the risk of developing diabetes, vascular and heart diseases.

Sleep phases

There are two types of sleep: slow and fast. It is known that every day in one sleep cycle a person stays in these two phases: slow-wave sleep lasts an average of one and a half hours, fast sleep - from 2 to 30 minutes.

Consider this classification in more detail:

• Slow sleep.

Coming after falling asleep, non-REM sleep includes 5 stages:

1. Zero - the appearance of drowsiness, slowing down the movement of the eyeballs, a decline in mental activity. Electroencephalography (EEG, a research method that reflects changes in the functioning of the cerebral cortex) registers the presence of alpha waves.
2. The first is a decrease in attention in relation to irritating factors, falling asleep.
3. The second is the onset of shallow sleep. The EEG notes sigma waves and "sleep spindles" (a state in which consciousness is dulled).
4. The third and fourth phases are the so-called "deep" sleep. The EEG registers the appearance of delta waves: almost all emerging dreams occur during these phases. Dreams are characteristic of the stage. The fourth stage "transitions" into REM sleep.

• Quick sleep.

The stage of REM sleep comes to replace the slow one. On average, its duration is 10-20 minutes. At this time, a sleeping person has an increase in blood pressure and body temperature, an increase in heart rate, and an acceleration of the movement of the eyeballs. Only the muscles responsible for breathing and heartbeat remain active. In addition, REM sleep is accompanied by active work of the brain, the occurrence of dreams is another feature.

How much sleep does a child need

So, distinguish between slow and fast sleep. Sleep norms exist for every age. The younger the age, the more sleep the body needs to maintain normal functioning. Consider separately the norms of sleep for children and adults.

1. Children (from 0 to 3 years).

The table of sleep norms will visually represent how many hours a day a child needs to sleep:

2. Children (4-17 years old).

What kind of sleep should be for children over 3 years old? Sleep norms for children from 4 years old are somewhat different from those discussed above. The fact is that a grown organism by the age of 4 is able to do without daytime rest. But, as in the case of a three-year-old child, the night's sleep should be full. So, children under 10 years old should sleep at least 10 hours at night, at an older age - at least 8.

How much sleep does an adult need

Now consider an adult dream. Sleep norms in this case are no longer so different depending on ages, however, they also have different indicators. An adult healthy person from 18 to 64 years old needs at least 7-9 hours of proper rest.

For older people over the age of 65, the sleep rate is somewhat reduced: to keep the body in good shape and stay in good spirits, 7-8 hours of night dreams are needed.

Deep sleep rate

In order to take a break from the past day during the night and properly mentally and physically prepare for the coming day, it is necessary not only to “sleep” the required number of hours, but to stay enough time in the phase of deep sleep. So, for an adult, this period normally takes from 30 to 70% of all sleep.

There are several rules for increasing the percentage of stay in the deep sleep phase:

• Compliance with the regime - it is recommended to go to bed and get up at the same time.
• Physical load on the body for 2-3 hours of falling asleep.
• Ignoring bad habits and overeating.
• Maintaining an optimal climate in the bedroom (humidity 60-70%, air temperature 18-20°C).

With age, the time spent in the long phase of sleep in humans is markedly reduced. Due to this, the aging process is accelerated.

The secret of working capacity

In order to feel great, keep up with work and get up with ease every morning, you need a little: just follow the regime, stay as long and often as possible in the fresh air and, most importantly, get enough sleep. Then any, at first glance, insurmountable obstacle will be on the shoulder, and everyday trips to work will not be a burden. Be in harmony with yourself and those around you!