Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well

Overview

Children need about 9 to 14 hours of sleep each night, depending on their age. Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.^{footnote 1}

A good night's sleep helps your child to grow, to form memories, and to learn. Sleep helps your child stay alert and focused at school and at play.

• Children who don't get enough sleep over time can have behavior problems and trouble learning. They may become moody, sad, or angry or not be able to focus.
• A child's sleep troubles can cause stress for the parent too, who may worry about their child. The parent also may be awake much of the night trying to get a child back to sleep. This lack of sleep can affect the parent's ability to focus during the day.

If you or your child often has trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, talk with the doctor. The doctor can check for any health problems that may be affecting your sleep or your child's sleep.

And you can take steps at home to set a consistent bedtime routine.