While children may seem anything but sleepy at bedtime, they still may be. Their bouncing around the room behavior may be masking sleep deprivation. Two year olds normally need 13 hours of sleep a day, including naps. School-aged children need about 10 hours of sleep. Most teenagers need a good 9 hours of sleep at night to be alert during the day.
Sleep patterns vary, based on the age of the child.
The average is about 16 hours divided into 3 or 4 hour naps between feedings. Sleep is affected by the baby's hunger, environment, and activity. Rocking induces sleep. Babies begin sleeping through the night when they weigh 12 or 13 pounds. Growth and developmental changes may be the cause.