Almost every family goes through a stretch of difficult sleep at some point — a baby who wakes frequently, a toddler who resists bedtime, a school-age child who snores. Most of these are common and manageable. This article walks through what's typical at each age, practical strategies that genuinely help, and the signs that mean a sleep problem is worth a closer medical look rather than just "something to wait out."
How much sleep children typically need
These are general ranges from sleep medicine consensus guidance, not rigid targets — individual children vary, and how rested and well a child functions during the day matters more than hitting an exact number:
- 4–12 months: 12–16 hours (including naps)
- 1–2 years: 11–14 hours (including naps)
- 3–5 years: 10–13 hours (including naps)
- 6–12 years: 9–12 hours
- 13–18 years: 8–10 hours
Safe sleep for infants
For babies under 1 year, safe sleep practices matter as much as sleep quantity — always place your baby on their back to sleep, on their own firm, flat sleep surface (a crib, bassinet, or play yard), with nothing loose nearby. Room-sharing — your baby's own crib in your bedroom, for at least the first 6 months — is recommended and is not the same as bed-sharing (sharing the same sleep surface with your baby), which should be avoided. See our Newborn Care guide for the complete safe sleep checklist.
Common sleep difficulties by age
Infants — Frequent night waking is normal and often related to feeding needs, especially in the first several months. Day/night confusion, where a baby sleeps more during the day than at night, usually resolves as their internal clock matures over the first couple of months.
Toddlers — Bedtime resistance and stalling ("one more story," repeated requests) are common as toddlers test limits and separation feels harder at this age. Night waking can continue, and nightmares (frightening dreams the child remembers and can be comforted after) start to appear, distinct from night terrors (a partial arousal where the child appears distressed but isn't fully awake and won't remember it afterward).
Preschool and school-age children — Fear of the dark, difficulty settling independently, sleepwalking, and night terrors are all fairly common in this age range and usually lessen over time. This is also the age where snoring becomes worth paying attention to (see below).
Adolescents — A natural shift toward a later sleep-wake rhythm (delayed sleep phase) is biological, not just a discipline issue, and it often collides with early school start times. Screen use before bed can make this harder to manage — see our Screen Time Guidelines article for more on this.
Bedtime routines that help
A consistent, calming wind-down routine — similar activities, similar order, roughly the same time each night — helps most children fall asleep more easily, across all these age groups. Dimming lights, avoiding stimulating play or screens in the hour before bed, and keeping the routine short and predictable all support this.
Sleep associations
Many children fall asleep more easily with something specific present — feeding, rocking, or a parent in the room — and wake looking for the same thing when they briefly stir between sleep cycles, which is normal for everyone. Several different approaches exist for gradually helping a child fall asleep more independently; there isn't one approach that suits every family, and it's reasonable to discuss what fits your child and your household with your pediatrician rather than following a generic script.
Snoring and possible sleep-disordered breathing
Occasional, quiet snoring — especially with a cold — is common and usually nothing to worry about. It's worth mentioning to your pediatrician if you notice:
- Loud or frequent snoring most nights
- Pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking sounds during sleep
- Unusual sleep positions, such as sleeping with the neck strongly extended
- Daytime sleepiness, or behaviour/attention problems that seem out of proportion to how much sleep the child is getting
These can point to sleep-disordered breathing, often related to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and pediatricians routinely ask about snoring at check-ups for this reason. It's assessed individually, and evaluation may involve a closer look at the tonsils/adenoids or, in some cases, a sleep study.
When sleep problems need medical evaluation
Not every sleep problem is behavioural, which is worth stating plainly. Consider bringing it up with your pediatrician if you notice:
- Loud snoring, breathing pauses, or gasping during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness despite what looks like adequate opportunity to sleep
- Sleep difficulties that are significantly affecting mood, behaviour, or school performance
- A sudden, unexplained change in sleep pattern
- Restlessness, leg discomfort, or an urge to move the legs that disrupts falling asleep
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my toddler to wake up at night? Yes, this is very common. Most children wake briefly between sleep cycles throughout the night; the difference is usually whether they can settle themselves back to sleep or need a parent each time.
My child snores sometimes — should I worry? Occasional, mild snoring (for example, with a cold) usually isn't a concern. Loud, frequent snoring, or snoring together with breathing pauses or daytime sleepiness, is worth mentioning at your next visit.
Will co-sleeping fix night waking? Not reliably, and for infants under 1 year, bed-sharing carries its own safety risks — see our Newborn Care guide for safe sleep recommendations. For older children, sleeping arrangements are a family choice, but they don't consistently resolve underlying sleep difficulties on their own.
See our Developmental and Behavioural Concerns service page for more on how sleep and behavioural concerns are assessed at this clinic.
Further reading
- Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations — Consensus Statement, American Academy of Sleep Medicine (endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics), Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016
- Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome — Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics
- Providing Care for Babies to Sleep Safely — CDC
General, current guidance for educational purposes — not individualized medical advice. Always discuss your child's specific sleep concerns with your own pediatrician.