What You Need at Each Stage for Sweet Dreams

As a parent, you want your child to be happy and healthy as they go through life. So you promote habits like eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly and encourage them to follow their dreams. There’s one more aspect of a happy, healthy life that follows your child as they grow, though—sleep may very well be one of the most impactful factors in their life.

Baby

In these first few stages of your child’s life, you have an ulterior motive in promoting a good night’s sleep–when your little one sleeps through the night, you get to do the same! For the first three months of their life, your newborn should get between 14 and 17 hours of sleep. Later, your baby should optimally sleep between 12 and 15 hours a day through the infant stage (between four and 11 months). 

A Boppy pillow is one tool that will help keep your baby happy and healthy while promoting a good night’s sleep. Parenting experts recommend setting up a bedtime routine, sticking to a consistent bedtime, and weaning your baby off nighttime feedings.

Your trusty Boppy can help you achieve this, serving as a nursing pillow during breast or bottle feeding and an infant support pillow through tummy time. Your little one might even get so cozy while nestled in their Boppy that they drift off to sleep more quickly—at that point, be sure to move them to a secure sleeping place, such as their crib or bassinet. 

Toddler

Between the ages of one and two, your toddler is more able to wear themself out through the day, playing with toys and learning about the world around them. At this stage, you should make sure your child is getting between 11 and 14 hours of sleep each day. 

You might consider upgrading them from the crib to a toddler bed for children in this age range. Many parents find a toddler bed unnecessary, though, opting instead to move their little one to a twin or full bed directly. 

Preschool

Come preschool (ages three to five), your child is becoming more active and more social, solidifying their unique personality. Between playdates and learning shapes, though, they should still be getting between 10 and 13 hours of sleep. 

This is another stage of life where you might choose a toddler bed or twin mattress for your little one. If they’ve stayed in a crib so far, you might prefer the slower transition of a toddler bed. Or, if they’re in a toddler bed already, it might be time to consider a twin-size bed or larger. When in doubt, consult the age, height, and weight guidelines for the options you’re considering. Often, these will provide all the information you need to make the safest choice for your child. 

Gradeschool

From the ages of six through 13, your child moves through grade school, be that elementary or middle school or even junior high. At this point, they should be aiming for between nine and 11 hours of sleep per night. Best of all, this means you can get your ideal seven to eight hours most of the time as well! 

By age six, your son or daughter should transition from a toddler bed to a twin size or twin XL, if they haven’t already. You might want to add extra comfortable or decorative pillows as an extra touch, letting their room grow along with them. 

Teen

Between school, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and maybe even dating, your teen (ages 14 to 17) should be getting between eight and 10 hours of sleep each night. It may seem difficult to balance, especially when they’d rather be out with friends or in front of a screen long through the night, but it’s vital to their health and wellness. 

If they’ve stuck with a twin-size bed through grade school, you might want to transition your teen to a twin XL mattress. Not only will this longer mattress accommodate your growing son or daughter (when did they become taller than we are?), but it will also offer a smooth transition to many US colleges and universities, which typically provide twin XL beds. 

From the first days with your baby, you’re particularly responsible for your child’s health and happiness until they enter young adulthood and even beyond. Sleep plays a significant role in both. As a result, the right sleep schedule and supplies will leave your child happier and healthier, as well as well-rested.