How Much Sleep is Required?

The amount of sleep that a person needs to function normally depends on several factors, such as age and pregnancy status.

The following are how

Infants and Children: Infants normally sleep for most of the day (about 16 hours). Children from 6 months to about 3 years of age only require about 14 hours of sleep. Young children generally get their sleep from a combination of nighttime sleep and daytime naps.
Teenagers: usually need about 9 hours a day of sleep. Sleep is especially crucial for teenagers because growth hormones are secreted while they are sleeping. These hormones are essential during puberty and growth spurts.
Adults: need an average of 7 to 8 hours a day. Some adults may require more (up to 10 hours) or less (as few as 5 hours) of sleep. It should be noted that a recent research study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine found that study participants who reported sleeping less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours a day had an increased incidence of diabetes, compared to those who slept 7-8 hours.
Elderly Adults: require about as much sleep as young adults (8-9 hours a day), however, they usually sleep for shorter periods and spend less time in the deepest stages of sleep.
Pregnant Women: need significantly more sleep than usual, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

About 50% of adults over the age of 65 have some type of sleep disorder; although it is not clear whether this is a normal part of aging or a result of medications that older people commonly use.

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