Everybody likes to sleep for a certain amount of time. Without the proper amount of sleep, we may experience negative side effects such as getting sick, becoming more irritable, not being able to focus, and a plethora of many other things that can plague anybody who has gone too long without sleep. In this article, we will cover the hours of sleep needed by age and much more information related to this topic.

What can Happen with Too Little Sleep

One of the reasons that recommended sleep by age is so important to adhere to is because if we get too little sleep, there may be consequences to pay for it throughout the week or month. Here are some of the things that can happen when we run on too little sleep:

• Lack of ability to remember important information
• Increased risk of getting into an automobile accident
• Increase in weight or overall BMI
• Greater risk of developing heart problems or diabetes
• Higher risk of getting psychiatric problems including depression and drug abuse
• You may not be able to focus or respond to signals as quickly

What can Happen with Too Much Sleep

On the other hand, another reason to pay attention to the recommended hours of sleep by age is because you can also experience negative side effects from getting too much sleep. Here is what can happen to us when we get too much sleep:

• Overtiredness
• Increased chances of illness
• Accident prone
• Increased death rate

Recommended Sleep Duration

Of course, how long you sleep will ultimately vary by person. However, there is an amount of average hours of sleep by age that is commonly recommended for the average person, regardless of whether you are male or female. They typically just determine it by your age. Here is a breakdown of the sleep requirements by age:

• Newborns—Babies between 0 to 2 months old generally require about 12-18 hours of sleep a night.
  
• Infants—Babies between 3 to 11 months of age typically need about 14 to 15 hours of sleep per night.
• Toddlers—Once your child hits the 1-3 years of age mark, he or she only needs about 12 to 14 hours of sleep.
• Preschoolers—Children between the ages of 3 and 5 need approximately 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night.
• Grade School Children—10 to 11 hours for kids between the ages of 5 to 10 years is good.
• Teens—Anybody between the ages of 10 to 17 needs about 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep
• Adults—People over the age of 18 only require about 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night

Follow the previously suggested health tips about hours of sleep needed by age, and you should find your health improving.