The quantity of sleep that a child needs varies from one child to another and also depends on the age. As a general guideline, the number of hours of sleep for a child is as follows -
1 to 4 weeks old - 15 to 18 hours per day
1 to 12 months old - 14 to 15 hours per day
1 to 3 years old - 12 to 14 hours per day
3 to 12 years old - 10 to 12 hours per day
12 to 18 years old - 8 to 9 hours per day
A study published in a pediatric journal says that a child who sleeps less and has an irregular sleep pattern is more likely to gain weight than a child who has a good sleeping pattern with adequate sleep. The risk for metabolic syndrome also is likely to increase. The risk is reduced if children can catch up on their lost hours of sleep during the weekends.
Ensure that your child sleeps well all round the year!