How many hours kip do you need? National Sleep Foundation updates its guidelines

New recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation may encourage some people to add an hour or two to their sleeping time.

17:43 04 February 2015

The National Sleep Foundation has released new guidelines that may encourage some people to stay in bed for at least an extra hour per day.

With the help of 18 medical scientists and researchers, 300 sleep studies were reviewed to figure out the exact number of hours that a person should sleep according to their age.

The ideal sleeping times per day are as follows:

• Newborns (0 - 3 months): 14-17 hours per day
• Infants (4 - 11 months): 12-15 hours per day
• Toddlers (1 - 2 years): 11-14 hours per day
• Pre-school children (3 - 5 years) 10-13 hours per day
• School age children (6 -13 years) 9-11 hours per day
• Teenagers (14 - 17 years) 8-10 hours per day
• Younger adults (18 - 25 years) 7-9 hours per day
• Adults (26 - 64): 7 - 9 hours per day
• Older adults (65 years+) 7-8 hours per day

Another related study conducted in Norway discouraged the use of electronic devices as it affects the quality and quantity of sleep among teenagers.

"The recommendations for healthy media use given to parents and adolescents need updating, and age specific guidelines regarding the quantity and timing of electronic media use should be developed," researchers said in a press release.