How Much Sleep Do I Need?

With sleep-deprivation at an all-time high, it’s important to stop and ask yourself: “Am I sleeping enough?”

The consequences of chronic lack of sleep are well documented; and while you may think you’re getting enough, do your sleep habits match-up with medical recommendations?

What about your children?

Or your pets?

Sleep is not just important; it’s necessary for our bodies to function properly. Every aspect of our health — both physical and mental — is impacted by the quality of our sleep.

Knowing the sleep requirements for every age enables you to take proactive steps to improving your overall well-being.

Newborns

During the first four weeks of life, babies require 14-17 hours of sleep per day. However — as any new parent is painfully aware of — at this stage it all takes place during short cycles of just a few minutes to 2-4 hours.

Newborns’ sleep cycles are not yet regulated by circadian rhythms — our internal body clock guided by daily cycles of light and dark.

For this reason, there is no seeming pattern to your baby’s sleep at this age: This is entirely normal and healthy as long as baby is sleeping the recommended hours over the course of the day.