Most of you parents out there would agree to the fact that how difficult it is to put your little one on the bed. It is definitely an exasperating task to convince your child to sleep and at the same time handle his whining behavior. Parents often have to tackle questions like - 'Why do I have to go to bed so early, when I'm not tired?' etc from their kids.

It turns out to be everyday's struggle to make your child sleep at the decent hour. But, then why is it that as we get older we feel more inclined towards sleeping? Once you enter into the parenthood, you always feel tired and look for extra hours to doze off. Whereas, children on the other hand never want to sleep. This actually makes us wonder - How much sleep does your child actually requires?

Different sleep needs for different age groups

There are different sleep needs for different age group of children. Generally, newborns tend to sleep for 16 to 20 hours per day and their longest periods of sleep could be from four to five hours at a time. Even then there are sleep variations for newborns as some may be able to sleep for eight to nine hours while others may sleep only for two to three hours. As the child grows, his sleep need decreases. Children from one to three years old typically sleep for ten to thirteen hours at night. When the child reaches school age, he requires eleven hours of sleep. Parents also need to keep in mind that, as such, there are no recommended hours for sleeping as it varies from child to child.

Research says €¦

As per the study, an ideal sleep schedule for children should not be less than 10 hours of sleep per night. It was found out that children who stay up late each night generally have more trouble with their schoolwork and have attention problems in class. Whereas, children who meet their sleep need are able to achieve high grades in school and perform better overall.

Sleep vital for child's health

Sleep is a vital need for child's health and growth. Sufficient sleep endorses alertness, memory and performance. Children who get enough sleep are less prone to behavioral problems and moodiness.

Therefore, that's why it is important for parents to start early and help their children develop good sleeping habits.