When it comes to sleep, it seems we could all use a little more of it — adults and kids alike.
So, when an elementary school teacher in Wisconsin posted a sleep schedule chart titled “At What Time Should Your Child Go to Bed?” to Facebook, you’d think that parents all over the state and beyond would breathe a huge sigh of relief and say, “Yes! Why haven’t we seen one of these sooner?”
Despite the chart going viral (it’s been shared more than 434,300 times on Facebook), parents are not particularly on board for the suggestions made by kindergarten and first-grade teacher Stacy Karlsen of Wilson Elementary School.
In fact, many are calling the graphic downright unrealistic.
Why some parents are not on board with this sleep schedule
Sleep recommendations by age
Twenty20
Whether you agree with Karlsen’s sleep schedule chart or not, it might be a good time to take a look at your own kid’s schedule to make sure they’re getting the shut-eye they need. Here are recommendations from The American Academy of Sleep Medicine for newborns to teens.
Newborns to 3 months
Eight to nine hours of sleep in the daytime and another eight hours at night.
Infants — 4 months to 1 year
Twelve to 16 hours of sleep in one 24-hour period. They’ll need at least two naps every day to get the recommended amount.
Toddlers — 1 to 2 years
Eleven to 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, with an additional nap at least once a day to get the recommended amount.
Preschoolers
Ten to 13 hours a day. For those kids not napping, parents are advised to adjust their bedtimes so that they still get the recommended amount of sleep.
Elementary school-age — 6 to 12 years
Nine to 12 hours per night, including weekends.
Teens
Eight to 10 hours, which is sometimes difficult, when you factor in homework and after-school activities. Good news: Some schools are moving to later start times.
But enough about the kids. Where’s the chart for adults?
