How much sleep does an infant need?

While every baby is unique, there are some average guides to how much sleep a baby or toddler may need.

The following practical information regarding nap and nighttime sleep is identified by Lavin and Glaser:

•One week – eight nap hours, eight nighttime hours
•One month – seven nap hours, eight and a half nighttime hours
•Three months – five nap hours, nine nighttime hours
•Six months – four nap hours, ten nighttime hours
•One year – two nap hours, eleven nighttime hours
•Two years – one nap hour, twelve nighttime hours
•Three years – 30 minutes nap, eleven nighttime hours

Lavin and Glaser recognise that if children as young as two years of age have a minor disruption to their sleep, this may lead to severe problems in brain functioning. Sleep deprived toddlers will likely exhibit some of the following: irritability, emotional instability, aggression, attention deficits and loss of memory function.

This was taken from infant-toddler-health.suite101.com

I have come under "attack" several times about how much sleep Amelia gets. Right now Amelia is in bed by 7:30 at the latest, 7 if she's tired. She naps for 2 hours a day. Sometimes she will be in bed at 6:30 if she's had a shorter nap. For the most part she sleeps for 12 hours at night and then her 2 hours during the day so 14 hours all up. I also read that sleep deprivation has a serious effect on a child’s ability to concentrate and pay attention. It also lowers children’s immune systems, so they’re more prone to illness.

The last line I found very interesting because Amelia has a fantastic immune system. And NO it's not because I'm a stay at home mom and my child's not in daycare and NO it will not effect her later on. She has a great immune system because of what she EATS and the SLEEP that she gets. Amelia is super bright and way ahead of her piers. She loves to read and cook and do art projects.

This was a rant post. Just had to put it out there.