National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Expert consensus guideline using formal consensus methodology (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method)
PubMed 29073412 · doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010
What was done
The National Sleep Foundation convened an 18-member multidisciplinary expert panel representing 12 stakeholder organizations to update sleep duration recommendations across the lifespan. The panel evaluated the scientific literature and determined recommendations using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method.
What was found
The panel agreed that appropriate sleep duration is 14 to 17 hours for newborns, 12 to 15 hours for infants, 11 to 14 hours for toddlers, 10 to 13 hours for preschoolers, 9 to 11 hours for school-aged children, 8 to 10 hours for teenagers, 7 to 9 hours for young adults and adults, and 7 to 8 hours for older adults.
Why it matters
This paper establishes standardized, age-specific reference targets for daily sleep duration developed through structured expert consensus across multiple medical and scientific organizations.
Limits
The findings represent expert consensus rather than primary empirical data. The abstract does not report the number, design, or quality of the underlying studies evaluated. Recommendations apply only to healthy individuals and not to those with sleep disorders or other health conditions.
Cited by
- supports The ideal amount of sleep for adults is between 7 and 9 hours per night.