Getting enough sleep? Experts update recommendations

Washington – Sleep is necessary for good health, and the National Sleep Foundation has updated its recommendations for how long people should sleep.

Experts reviewed more than 300 scientific publications to determine the new guidelines.

For newborns (3 months or younger), daily sleep of 14 to 17 hours is recommended, compared with the previous recommendation of 12 to 18. The recommendation for adults (seven to nine hours) did not change.

Age groups were added for adults 18 to 25 and 65 and older. Sleep duration that “may be appropriate” was included to acknowledge that duration can vary by individual, according to a press release.

The recommendations are as follows:

• Newborns – 14 to 17 hours
• Infants (4 to 11 months) – 12 to 15 hours
• Toddlers (1 to 2 years) – 11 to 14 hours
• Preschoolers (3 to 5) – 10 to 13 hours
• School-aged children (6 to 13) – 9 to 11 hours
• Teens (14 to 17) – 8 to 10 hours
• Young adults (18 to 25) and adults (26 to 64) – 7 to 9 hours
• Older adults (65 and older) – 7 to 8 hours

The research was published Jan. 14 in Sleep Health.