The Importance of Sleep
All mammals need to sleep due to their brain’s structure. The cortex, where all complex thinking takes place, must have a “daily reset” to organize and categorize daily impressions, ideas and thinking structures.
Human beings are not different in that sense. Sleep is essential for maintaining our learning capabilities and memory, and mental and physical wellbeing. Experts recommend a full 7 hours of sleep per 24 hours for adults at the age of 18-64. When it comes to children, the number increases. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 12-16 hours of sleep to babies at the age of 4-12 months. Toddlers at 1-2 years old need 11-14 hours. Young children aging 3 – 5, should sleep 10-13 hours a day. 6-12-year old children must sleep no less that 9-12 hours. 13-18-year old teens need 8-10 hours of a good night sleep.