The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) provides insights into sleep patterns among U.S. children, revealing varying levels of insufficient sleep across different ages, states, and racial or ethnic groups.
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This summary highlights data focused on children aged 4 months to 14 years. It is important for parents to be aware of the daily recommended hours of sleep for children, detailed in the NSCH survey.
Parents participating in the survey answer questions regarding their children's sleep, including for infants and children aged 5 and younger how many hours their child slept on average over the past week, including nighttime sleep and naps. For children and adolescents aged 6 to 17, the survey asks about average sleep during weeknights. Children are considered to have insufficient sleep if reported hours are below the age-appropriate recommendations.
According to the 2020–2021 survey data, the percentage of children not getting enough sleep ranged from 25% in Minnesota to as high as 50% in Louisiana. Insufficient sleep was notably prevalent among specific groups, with 37% of children aged 4 months to 5 years and 61% of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander children reported not getting sufficient sleep.
The findings underscore the need for increased awareness and efforts to ensure children receive adequate sleep for their health and development.