Figuring Out Sleep Needs

Understanding sleep needs can be different for every child. Each child is unique, and so are their sleep requirements. By learning what your child needs for sleep, you’ll enjoy better nights and longer, more restful naps.

Let’s dive into the different types of sleep needs to help you and your little one start each day well-rested.

How to Determine Your Child’s Sleep Needs

There are three main sleep need types: LOW, AVERAGE, and HIGH. Most children fall into the “average” range, but there’s been a noticeable trend toward children with lower sleep needs. If you have a high-sleep-needs child, consider yourself lucky – it’s every parent’s dream!

What Are Borderline Sleep Needs?

This can get a bit tricky! A child may have “borderline” sleep needs, meaning they don’t fit perfectly into one category and can shift depending on their development. Here’s what that might look like:

* An average sleep-needs child leans toward low sleep needs during development.

* A high sleep-needs child occasionally shifts to average during developmental phases.

* A low sleep-needs child might have phases of higher sleep needs.

In short, sleep needs can fluctuate as children grow and develop.

When Do Sleep Needs Change?

Sleep needs can change during development, often staying within a predictable range. For example, one of my children usually needs an average amount of sleep, except during growth phases when they need less. My other child has high sleep needs but sometimes shifts to average during development.

Age milestones where sleep needs may change include:

* 12 months

* 18 months

* 20 months

* 24 months

* 32 months

* 36 months

Remember, these ages indicate potential changes in sleep needs – every child is different!

Understanding Different Sleep Needs
* High Needs: High sleep-needs kids require 12-13 hours of sleep at night and drop naps later. They’re prone to overtiredness, need long naps, and adjust easily to changes in their sleep environment.

* Average Needs: These children need around 11-12 hours of sleep at night and follow typical nap timelines. They adapt to new schedules without too much trouble.

* Low Needs: Low sleep-needs kids often average 9-10 hours of sleep overnight, drop naps earlier, and tolerate longer wake windows. They don’t handle schedule changes or new environments well.

How Sleep Needs Affect Sleep Training

Understanding your child’s sleep needs is key to successful sleep training. A schedule mismatch can disrupt your approach, causing split nights, false starts, and extended crying. If you can determine your child’s sleep needs, you’re already halfway there. Trust me!

If you’re still struggling to find the right schedule, consider scheduling a 30-minute SOS call with me or book a discovery call to learn about my approach.

Until then, happy sleeping ❤️

Selina Truax

Creator and Head Sleep Coach