School-Age Children and Teens Need About 9.5 Hours of Sleep

How much sleep does a teenager need? More than most get, according to the numbers. The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that school-age children and teens on average need about 9.5 hours of sleep per night. That is more than the 7 to 9 hours most adults need, and less than the 16 to 18 hours a day that newborn babies sleep. The institute explains why it matters. Quality sleep, and getting enough of it at the right times, is as essential to survival as food and water. Sleep is important to how nerve cells communicate with each other, and without enough of it, it becomes harder to concentrate and respond quickly. Over time, a chronic lack of sleep raises the risk of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and obesity.