How Sleep Changes Across Your Lifespan
Understand how sleep architecture, duration needs, and common sleep problems evolve from infancy through older adulthood.
Key Points
- Sleep architecture changes significantly from infancy to old ageDeep sleep decreases with age while light sleep increasesOlder adults wake more frequently but need similar total sleepSleep disorders become more common with ageGood sleep habits in youth protect sleep quality in later life
Infant & Child Sleep
Newborns spend 50% of sleep in REM (vs 20-25% in adults). Sleep consolidates as the brain matures—newborns sleep in fragments, but by 6 months most infants can sleep 6+ hours consecutively. Deep sleep is abundant in childhood, supporting rapid growth and brain development.
Adult Sleep Changes
Starting in your 30s-40s, deep sleep (stage 3) gradually decreases while light sleep (stage 2) increases. You also wake more frequently during the night. However, total sleep need remains relatively stable (7-9 hours). The myth that older adults "need less sleep" is false—they have more difficulty achieving it, but the need persists.
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