Although there is some debate regarding the number of hours of sleep that we require at different stages of our lives, the consensus among sleep experts is that our sleep patterns and sleep needs do change considerably as we age. These sleep pattern changes are influenced by a number of different factors including changes in our perception of the importance of sleep, increased life responsibilities and daily demands, and combinations of stress, soreness, medication, personal health, and assorted life factors. In addition, some of the sleep schedule changes that individuals experience throughout their lives are related to natural variations in sleep patterns and shifts in our circadian rhythms.

The following points briefly describe and explain some of the natural sleep pattern changes that occur as we age:

Infants and Children: require approximately 10-12 hours of sleep
• Infants compensate for frequent nighttime awakenings by taking numerous daytime naps.
• As children age, the number and duration of periodic daytime naps decrease because they experience fewer interruptions throughout the night.

Adolescents and Young-Adults: require approximately 10-11 hours of sleep
• Adolescents experience physiological changes that cause shifts in their circadian rhythms.
• Teenagers enter a ‘delayed sleep phase’ whereby they naturally fall asleep much later in the night, and awake much later in the morning.

Adults and Older Adults: require approximately 7-9 hours of sleep
• The quality and quantity of sleep changes throughout adulthood, reflecting changes in lifestyle.
• Adults continue to experience natural shifts in their circadian rhythms as they age. This includes tiring earlier, sleeping less soundly, and awakening early in the morning.

Despite the normal and natural changes that occur in our sleep schedules, it is necessary to get adequate amounts of sleep each night regardless of age. If a healthy sleep schedule is set earlier in life, then it will more likely carry forward into older age.