Newborns
Toddlers
Toddlers in the 1- to 2-year range need slightly less sleep than babies. They should be getting 11 to 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, meaning they still need to nap at least once in the day.
Preschoolers
Preschoolers, who may indicate they no longer want to nap, still need plenty of sleep—around 10 to 13 hours a day. If they refuse to nap, parents are encouraged to adjust their child's bedtimes so that they get the full amount required for their rapidly developing brains and bodies.
Elementary Age
Elementary school-age kids from 6 to 12 years old also need to get enough sleep, but with after-school activities and evenings spent on homework, it can be more challenging to get the full recommended amount: nine to 12 hours per night, including weekends.
Teens
Teens are notoriously lacking in the sleep department. Their schools start super early, they're in after-school sports and activities, and they stay up late doing homework. Still, their brains are developing, and they need lots of sleep to perform well and be healthy: eight to 10 hours.
Young Adults
Young adults, those ages 19 to 25, are still growing their brains and getting everything wired up. And yet this is an age where sleep is often the last priority. Still, young adults should aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. (Though experts concede that some do fine with as little as six hours, while others need between 10 and 11 hours.)
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women have different sleep needs, due to changing hormones and the work of growing another life. While they should be getting at least eight hours of sleep per night, their quality of sleep has changed and so they may want to bump up their usual sleep amount by 45 minutes or add in a nap during the day.
