For parents & clinicians
How Sleep Shapes Early Childhood Development
The short answerSleep needs change as children grow. A sleep-medicine consensus panel recommends age-based ranges, including naps for infants and young children, while recognizing that individual needs vary. [1]
What this means for your child
Use the key takeaways and questions below to start a conversation with your child’s healthcare provider.
Study details and guidance
In a 2013 study, 40 preschool children completed both a nap-promoted and a wake-promoted condition after learning a picture-location task. As a group, they recalled more after the nap opportunity than after a comparable period awake; the effect was strongest among children who usually napped. [2]
Key takeaways
- Sleep needs change as children grow. [1] Not yet rated
- The panel did not set a range for infants younger than four months because of limited evidence and variation in normal sleep patterns. [1] Not yet rated
- Frequent snoring or breathing problems during sleep are symptoms the AAP recommends discussing with a pediatrician. [5] Not yet rated
How much sleep is recommended?
In 2016, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine panel recommended the following amounts of sleep per 24 hours for healthy children: [1]
- Infants ages 4 to 12 months: 12 to 16 hours, including naps.
- Children ages 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours, including naps.
- Children ages 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours, including naps.
- Children ages 6 to 12 years: 9 to 12 hours.
- Teens ages 13 to 18 years: 8 to 10 hours.
The panel did not set a range for infants younger than four months because of limited evidence and variation in normal sleep patterns. These ranges are general guidance, and a child's healthcare provider can help interpret sleep needs in context. [1]
What does a nap study tell us about memory?
In a 2013 study, 40 preschool children completed both a nap-promoted and a wake-promoted condition after learning a picture-location task. As a group, they recalled more after the nap opportunity than after a comparable period awake; the effect was strongest among children who usually napped. [2]
This was a small study of one memory task in a preschool setting. Its findings do not establish that every child needs to nap or that naps improve every kind of learning. [2]
What can families discuss with a provider?
The CDC suggests maintaining regular sleep and wake times. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends avoiding screens for an hour before bedtime and keeping devices out of the bedroom as part of a family media plan. [3] [4]
Frequent snoring or breathing problems during sleep are symptoms the AAP recommends discussing with a pediatrician. [5]
Sources
- Paruthi S, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2016.
- Kurdziel L, Duclos K, Spencer RMC. Sleep spindles in midday naps enhance learning in preschool children. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2013.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About sleep.
- Munzer T, et al. Digital ecosystems, children, and adolescents: policy statement. Pediatrics. 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Sleep apnea in children: detection and treatment.
