How much sleep do we really need?

Sleep is a vital indicator of overall health and well-being. We spend up to one-third of our lives asleep, and the overall state of our sleep health remains an essential question throughout our lifespan.

Most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important, but too few of us actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a priority. For many of us with sleep debt, we’ve forgotten what “being really, truly rested” feels like.

Recommended sleep

• Newborns (0-3 months): Sleep range narrowed to 14-17 hours each day
• Infants (4-11 months): Sleep range widened two hours to 12-15 hours
• Toddlers (1-2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour to 11-14 hours
• Preschoolers (3-5): Sleep range widened by one hour to 10-13 hours
• School age children (6-13): Sleep range widened by one hour to 9-11 hours
• Teenagers (14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours
• Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours
• Adults (26-64): Sleep range is 7-9 hours
• Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours

Remember these are just recommendations and it is important to pay attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep.