{"id":25417,"date":"2021-05-15T05:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-15T05:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=25417"},"modified":"2021-05-16T12:02:42","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T12:02:42","slug":"how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need\/","title":{"rendered":"How much sleep do you really need?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dana McMakin<\/a>, Florida International University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Curious Kids<\/a> is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you\u2019d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why do I need to sleep for a long time at night? \u2013 Sly M., 6, Cambridge, Massachusetts<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Just like eating, drinking or breathing, sleep is an essential part of life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, all animals do it<\/a> \u2013 with some interesting variations. A dolphin, for example, sleeps with one eye open and only half of its brain snoozing at a time<\/a>. This is likely because dolphins need to be partly conscious to breathe while in the water. Zebras sometimes sleep standing up<\/a> in case they need to wake up and quickly escape a predator. Bats sleep upside down<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/a>
All animals need to sleep. Gregory Sweeney\/Moment via Getty Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When someone\u2019s asleep, it can look like they are turned \u201coff\u201d and not doing anything at all. But, that\u2019s not true. Your brain and body are active<\/a> and doing important things while you sleep, like organizing nerve cells, regulating hormones, repairing cells and clearing out toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your brain is especially busy, helping you get lots of things done while you sleep. Among other things, it\u2019s processing memories<\/a>, gaining creative insight<\/a> and learning new skills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep helps you learn, grow and thrive<\/a>, and all these processes take time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why babies need 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day for the first three months of their lives \u2013 newborns are asleep way more than they are awake. Most school-aged kids need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep<\/a>. Teens can aim for nine hours, which is what some adults need too. But seven or eight hours is enough for other grownups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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