How much sleep does my toddler/ preschooler / school going child need ?

This is a question that I get asked many times as a pediatrician.

Here is a chart that provides information about the same - please remember that each child is different, and the amount of sleep may vary between different children. This is just a general guideline.

Age	Nighttime sleep	Daytime sleep	Average total sleep
2 years	10 to 12 hours	1 to 3 hours (1 nap)	13 hours
3 years	9 to 12 hours	1 to 3 hours (1 nap)	12 to 13 hours
4 years	9 to 12 hours	0 to 2.5 hours (1 or no nap)	11 to 12 hours
5 years	8 to 11 hours	0 to 2.5 hours (1 or no nap)	10 to 11 hours
6 years	10 to 11 hours	none	10 to 11 hours
7 years	10 to 11 hours	none	10 to 11 hours
8 years	10 to 11 hours	none	10 to 11 hours
*Note: The two sets of numbers don't always add up because children who take longer naps tend to sleep fewer hours at night, and vice versa.

Keep in mind that most kids need a lot of sleep – usually more than parents allow for.

So what are the signs that a child may not be getting enough sleep. 

·         Does my child frequently fall asleep while riding in the car?

·         Do I have to wake him almost every morning?

·         Does he seem cranky, irritable, or overtired during the day?

It is an interesting paradox that if a child has poor sleep habits or refuses to nap or go to bed before 10 at night, his parents will assume that he just doesn't need much sleep. That's probably not the case – in fact, it's likely that such a child is actually sleep-deprived, resulting in hyper, overtired behavior at bedtime.

Source

 Most children will stop having two naps by 1.5 to two years, and may completely stop napping anytime between 4-6 years.

Here are some tips to keep help toddlers sleep...

Have a sleep routine

Keep the sleep routine short and sweet

Fussiness, whininess, fighting with siblings — all have their root in the lack of a good night's sleep. If your child has any of these, move up bedtime.

Exert control and set an early bedtime, preferably between 7 and 8 p.m

A consistent wake-up routine is just as important as a regular bedtime. Children should get up at roughly the same time every day (give or take 30 minutes), even on weekends.

Source

So get a good sleep routine, and enjoy the pleasures of getting a good night's sleep yourself too :)