Child Sleep Requirements Calculator
Calculate the recommended daily sleep hours for your child based on their age, following American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and National Sleep Foundation (NSF) guidelines.
Formula & Classification
Sleep requirements are determined by mapping the child's age to evidence-based ranges:
- Newborn (0–3 months): 14–17 hours/day
- Infant (4–11 months): 12–16 hours/day
- Toddler (1–2 years): 11–14 hours/day
- Preschool (3–5 years): 10–13 hours/day
- School-Age (6–12 years): 9–12 hours/day
- Teenager (13–17 years): 8–10 hours/day
Optimal Target = (Min + Max) / 2
Actual Sleep = Wake Time − Bedtime (adjusted for midnight crossover)
Suggested Bedtime = Wake Time − Optimal Target Sleep Duration
Sleep Deficit = Min Recommended − Actual Sleep (if negative)
Assumptions & References
- Recommendations follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2016 guidelines and National Sleep Foundation (NSF) 2015 consensus.
- Sleep totals include both nighttime sleep and daytime naps for children under 5 years.
- Individual sleep needs may vary; some children may function well at the lower or upper end of the range.
- Bedtime and wake time inputs are optional and used only to estimate current sleep duration and suggest an ideal bedtime.
- Persistent sleep outside the recommended range should be discussed with a pediatrician.
- This calculator does not account for sleep quality, sleep disorders, or medical conditions.
- Reference: Paruthi S, et al. "Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations." Pediatrics, 2016; Hirshkowitz M, et al. Sleep Health, 2015.