Sleep agency issues new benchmarks
14 to 17 hours for newborns, while adults 65 and older should get seven to eight
Are you getting enough sleep?
The U.S. National Sleep Foundation has released new guidelines for how much sleep you should — and shouldn’t — get, broken down by age.
They consulted experts in sleep, anatomy and physiology, along with doctors in various fields.
Following are the new benchmarks, including a new category “may be appropriate:”
1. Newborns (birth to 3 months): 14-17 hours recommended, not less than 11 hours or more than 19 hours. May be appropriate: 11-13 hours or 18-19 hours.
2. Infants (4 to 11 months): 12-15 hours recommended, not less than 10 or more than 18. May be appropriate: 10-11 hours or 16-18 hours.
3. Toddlers (1 to 2 years): 11-14 hours recommended, not less than nine or more than 16. May be appropriate: nine to 10 hours or 15-16 hours.
4. Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): 10-13 hours recommended, not less than eight or more than 14. May be appropriate: eight to nine hours or 14 hours.
5. School-aged children (6 to 13): nine-11 hours recommended, not less than seven or more than 12. May be appropriate: seven to eight hours or 12 hours.
6. Teenagers (14 to 17): eight-10 hours recommended, not less than seven or more than 11. May be appropriate: seven hours or 11 hours.
7. Young adults (18-25): seven to nine hours, not less than six or more than 11. May be appropriate: six hours or 10-11 hours.
8. Adults (26-64): seven to nine hours, not less than six or more than 10. May be appropriate: six hours or 10 hours.
9. Older adults (65+): seven to eight hours, not less than five or more than nine. May be appropriate: five to six hours or nine hours.