The baby should prefer that to a plastic teething ring. Before the invention of the light bulb, the average adult slept 10 hours a night. Unfortunately, stress, overwork, watching TV, and surfing the Internet use precious hours that should be spent sleeping. Many working adults average just five hours of sleep on weeknights, when really they should be snoozing for seven to eight hours. Almost two-thirds of all adult Americans get fewer than the recommended eight hours of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Many children lose sleep because, like adults, they are overscheduled.
Growing bodies need 8.5 to 9 hours a night of sleep. In fact, the hormone responsible for growth is secreted mostly during sleep. Even losing an hour's sleep can affect a child's mood and performance. It is important for parents to be aware of how full their children's days are, and when it is time to cut back. If you tend to fall asleep while reading, during a business meeting, watching a movie or listening to a concert or lecture, chances are you are not getting enough ZZZ's.