Sources

The research and guidance behind the calculator, the sleep need checker and the guides, with links so you can read the originals.

Sleep duration: the calculator's data

Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D'Ambrosio C, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016;12(6):785-786. Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5866 A 13-member expert panel reviewed 864 published studies and voted on ranges for each age. This is the calculator's primary source. The panel did not set a range for babies under 4 months because the evidence was too limited.
Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM, et al. National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary.Sleep Health, 2015;1(1):40-43. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010 A separate 18-member panel using a different method. Its ranges overlap closely with the AASM's, which is why we treat the AASM figures as well supported. The NSF also gives a newborn range (14-17 hours) that some of our infant guides mention.
AgeAASM 2016 (per 24h)NSF 2015 (per 24h)Used by the calculator
0-3 monthsNot set14-17 hNSF, rough guide only
4-12 months12-16 h incl. naps12-15 hAASM
1-2 years11-14 h incl. naps11-14 hAASM
3-5 years10-13 h incl. naps10-13 hAASM
6-12 years9-12 h9-11 hAASM
13-18 years8-10 h8-10 h (14-17)AASM

Routines, settling and sleep training

Mindell JA, Williamson AA. Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: sleep, development, and beyond.Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2018;40:93-108. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2017.10.007 Review behind our bedtime routine guidance: consistent routines are linked to earlier sleep onset, fewer night wakings and longer sleep.
Mindell JA, Kuhn B, Lewin DS, et al. Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children.Sleep, 2006;29(10):1263-1276. doi:10.1093/sleep/29.10.1263 AASM review of behavioural approaches, used in our sleep training comparison.

Safe sleep for babies

Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; AAP Task Force on SIDS. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment.Pediatrics, 2022;150(1):e2022057990. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057990 The US basis for our room-sharing and bed-sharing guide.
The Lullaby Trust: safer sleep advice.UK charity guidance. lullabytrust.org.uk The UK equivalent, used alongside the AAP where advice differs in emphasis.

Teenagers and school start times

Adolescent Sleep Working Group, AAP Committee on Adolescence, Council on School Health. School start times for adolescents.Pediatrics, 2014;134(3):642-649. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-1697 Explains the later shift in teenage body clocks, which is why the calculator's teen bedtimes often look later than parents expect.

Practical guidance for parents

Each guide on the site also lists the specific sources it used at the end of the article. How sources are chosen and checked is described in our editorial standards.