Your child needs plenty of sleep to allow their body and mind to rest and to grow and develop. If your child has enough sleep, they are likely to be happier, have more energy and be more active.

The Australian recommendations for sleep over a 24 hour period are:

• Babies 0 to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours
• Babies 4 to 11 months: 12 to 16 hours
• Children aged 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
• Children aged 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours.

Remember this is just a guide and every child is different. Your child may need more or less sleep than this.

Some ideas on how to get your child to sleep well include:

• Resettling your baby back to sleep if they wake after less than 1 hour
• Having the same bedtime routine that you follow every night. This may include dinner, bath, book and bed
• Putting your child to sleep in a warm, dark and comfortable room. A good temperature is around 21°C
• If your child uses electronics including TVs and tablets, don’t use them for at least 1 hour before bedtime.

Some children can fight bedtime. Stay calm and keep taking them back to their bed. If you have any concerns about your child’s sleep, talk to your health professional or the support services listed below.