Does anyone actually give teens 16 hours of sleep?

[johnandtinagilbert]

My son loves to say this to me and I know we all read it, but really? 16 hours? Anyone?

[Brindee]

 

My son loves to say this to me and I know we all read it, but really? 16 hours? Anyone?

16? Why 16? :001_huh: (I haven't read about 16 hours of sleep?) No, my teens do not get 16 hours of sleep!

[Murphy101]

I do normally insist on a solid 8, but 16 is ridiculous.

 

Once again I have to wonder why the heck the last generation or two are such delicate pansies compared to previous generations.

 

I know I sure as heck never needed nor got 16 hours of sleep.:glare:

[Liza Q]

I think the most my girls ever get is an occasional 10 hours on Friday night, but it is usually 7-8 hours. My oldest tries to get to bed 10-10:30 becasue she has to up at 6 to get to class (she is attending a local college). My 17yo works on Monday and Tuesday from 6-noon so she usually sleeps in on Wednesday till about 9 and is up about 7:30 during the rest of the week.

 

16 hours - wow! I can see that a really active, growing teen might need that much sleep from time to time but how can a kid fit in all their school/work/social stuff in such a short day on a regular basis?

[rlugbill]

Sleep is one of the main reasons we homeschool. The public school kids wake up at 6 so they can catch the school bus at 7 am.

 

I see the neighbor kids walking around all cranky because they are sleep-deprived.

 

My dd (12) gets to sleep in. She gets up 8:45 or 9:00 or so. I used to think this was teaching her bad habits, and that early to bed, early to rise was the way to go because that is what I do.

 

But now I realize that her sleep is important for her health and her mental health and her education. If you are sleep-deprived, you don't learn nearly as well, and you are not a kind, loving person. You are just ornery.

 

But I never heard the 16 hours thing. Ten is usually fine unless she has gotten behind on her sleep. Often she gets by on 9.

[holdoll]

My son loves to say this to me and I know we all read it, but really? 16 hours? Anyone?

 

Not even close! Oldest would sleep 9 or 10 hours tops after an unusually busy week, but normally averages 8. The youngest sleeps about 9.

[johnandtinagilbert]

WOOT! We're right on. I've read this is a few articles over the years and in my sons health class it says 12-16...whatever, we're more like 8 around here with a nap during growth spurts. I enjoyed reading your replies to ds!:tongue_smilie:

[Laura Corin]

Calvin is in bed for about ten hours on week nights, but sometimes it takes a while for him to get to sleep.

 

Laura

[CoastalGal]

My teens sleep from 9:30 PM - 7AM most nights during the week. Never heard of 16 hours "required sleep"...

[anneofalamo]

my son explained according to studies he needed 12 hours sleep to have a healthy body, I said, sounds great hon, good night! It was 7pm. I said, if you need it, go to bed earlier, but YOU ARE waking up at 7AM.

He thought perhaps the study was flawed, and enjoyed his 9pm lights out.

[In The Great White North]

Can I have 16 hours of sleep too?

[Abigail4476]

My girls are 13 and 15, and manage on 8-10 hours of sleep. They go to bed between 8:30 and 10, depending on the day, and get up at 7. If my oldest daughter is really tired, which happens occasionally, she'll put herself to bed earlier. I let them sleep late on Saturdays unless we have something scheduled, but they're still usually up by 9:30 or 10.

 

16 seems excessive to me. I'd be dragging my kids out of bed at that point. :glare:

 

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/how_much_sleep.html

 

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-needs

[Abigail4476]

Quality of sleep is important, too, btw. I make my kids get off their computers, phones, turn off the TV, or any other media except quiet music about an hour before bedtime. When they go to bed, their minds have had time to calm down and the house is quiet and dark even if we aren't in bed yet.

[Pam Wilhelm]

Sleep is one of the main reasons we homeschool. The public school kids wake up at 6 so they can catch the school bus at 7 am.

 

I see the neighbor kids walking around all cranky because they are sleep-deprived.

 

My dd (12) gets to sleep in. She gets up 8:45 or 9:00 or so. I used to think this was teaching her bad habits, and that early to bed, early to rise was the way to go because that is what I do.

 

But now I realize that her sleep is important for her health and her mental health and her education. If you are sleep-deprived, you don't learn nearly as well, and you are not a kind, loving person. You are just ornery.

 

But I never heard the 16 hours thing. Ten is usually fine unless she has gotten behind on her sleep. Often she gets by on 9.

 

This is exactly what we do ...... and why. I love to tell the kids that the public schoolers have been up and "functioning" for hours. :lol:

[Teachin'Mine]

My son loves to say this to me and I know we all read it, but really? 16 hours? Anyone?

 

Yes. But we take two nights to do it. :)

 

Sixteen hours sounds excessive to me.

[regentrude]

My kids would never sleep for 16 hours unless they were severely ill.

[stephanier.1765]

my son explained according to studies he needed 12 hours sleep to have a healthy body, I said, sounds great hon, good night! It was 7pm. I said, if you need it, go to bed earlier, but YOU ARE waking up at 7AM.

He thought perhaps the study was flawed, and enjoyed his 9pm lights out.

 

Yep, exactly what I said to my son and got the same reaction. :lol::lol::lol:

[Guest Barb B]

OH boy - 16! NEver heard that. How early they would have to go to bed! Wouldn't that be like sleeping from 7:00 in the evening to 11:00! Not possible!

 

Barb

[Excelsior! Academy]

That would only leave 8 hours of wake time. How could they possibly complete a 6 hourish school work load a day, eat, have free time, chores, etc.? Nope, mine get 8 and on a good day 10.

[Mejane]

My almost 15yo regularly sleeps ten hours per night and would probably sleep for twelve if I let him. He's grown eight inches in the last year; I think that has a lot to do with it.

[HappyCrazyMama]

No, but if they wanted to go to bed that early I guess I would let them.:lol:

[johnandtinagilbert]

My almost 15yo regularly sleeps ten hours per night and would probably sleep for twelve if I let him. He's grown eight inches in the last year; I think that has a lot to do with it.

WOW! 8 inches! That is some serious growth!

[ChemMommy]

ds, almost 17, sleeps from 11pm to 8am most days, 9am if I'll let him. That's 9-10 hours of sleep. He is growing and needs sleep, but once he's awake, I expect him to work, study, and move, not crash on the couch like a blob. So, no, sorry. No 16 hours of sleep at this house.

[angela in ohio]

I haven't ever seen 16 hours, but 9-12.

 

My 14 yo gets 9 or so per night.

[Mejane]

WOW! 8 inches! That is some serious growth!

 

I looked back at his growth chart and it was actually about a year and a half. He grew six inches in six months. For awhile it seemed like he was an inch taller every time he came downstairs in the morning. :D

[AnitaMcC]

My son loves to say this to me and I know we all read it, but really? 16 hours? Anyone?

 

No way!!!! Mine get up to 10 hours (12 if they need to do catch-up sleep).

 

Usually my Ds (who just seems to need less sleep) gets about 6-8 hours. Dd usually gets 8-10 hours (most nights it is 8 hrs, but when she is preparing for a tournament she sleeps a bit more due to increase in her training).

Edited October 30, 2010 by AnitaMcC

[Mommyfaithe]

WOOT! We're right on. I've read this is a few articles over the years and in my sons health class it says 12-16...whatever, we're more like 8 around here with a nap during growth spurts. I enjoyed reading your replies to ds!:tongue_smilie:

 

My older kids NEVER slept that much...16 hours?? Nope, not even when they were newborns...sigh...

 

My 16 y/o is now sleeping 10-12 hours and I make him take a nap....but that is only because he is fighting an advanced case of Lyme disease...and sleep, good nutrition and exercise is the only ways to beat this. (That and loads of antibiotics...sigh)

 

My 12 year old sleeps about 12 hours. I have noticed how her time table has shifted....she is staying up later and sleeping later.....

 

Faithe

[justamouse]

I found the same thing with growing and sleeping (and knee cramps). My 11 yo grew two inches in one month and all he wanted to do was sleep.

[QueenCat]

Younger ds (high school senior) gets about 10 hours. Any less, and he is not as productive as he is with more sleep. On occassion, hel'll sleep more.

[Kates]

My 13yo is growing like crazy right now...an inch in the past 4 days, and more coming soon. His legs hurt so bad he literally can't walk more than a few feet at a time. He's eating constantly and sleeps a lot, and it totals up to about 10-12 hours a day.

 

16??? Wow...I don't think it's physically possible to sleep that much, unless one is seriously ill.

[Storm Bay]

I've never read anywhere where 16 hours of sleep is recommended. I've read things like 10-12 hours (but can't remember if 12 is for teens, too, or just younger dc). My eldest has moved past needing more than 8 on a regular basis (wakes up on her own after about 8 hours,) but my 12 yo needs at least 10 hours a night now that she's in her growth spurt.

[AnitaMcC]

My 13yo is growing like crazy right now...an inch in the past 4 days, and more coming soon. His legs hurt so bad he literally can't walk more than a few feet at a time. He's eating constantly and sleeps a lot, and it totals up to about 10-12 hours a day.

 

16??? Wow...I don't think it's physically possible to sleep that much, unless one is seriously ill.

 

 

For the pain... calcium supplements and extra protein helps my Dd.

 

She also goes to a chiropracter and physical/massage therapist as her bones grow faster than her tendons/muscles and the tendons/muscles are extremely tight. Without the therapy she couldn't straighten her legs or arms fully and waddled like a duck. After almost 5 yrs of therapy and Kung Fu... she is pretty flexible and mostly the pain is manageable.

[rootsnwings]

I know growing up I could *easily* have slept 14-16hours per day, no problem. Sleeping was my absolute favorite thing to do & even now I enjoy a good nights sleep on occasion. Although now I can't seem to stay inbthe bed more than 5 hours a night! My mom & dad joke that I did all my sleeping in the first quarter of my life.:tongue_smilie:

 

My ds 9 is almost as big as I am (5'9") and growing steadily. He's grown 2" in 3 months as of last week. I checked because he has been sleeping 14+ hrs most nights and I would NEVER stop him from sleeping in if he felt like he needed it. I had parents who would SPANK ME for taking a nap after school which is just absolutely rediculous! Different people have different needs for sleep and we evidently carry the sleep gene! My grandmother was/is the same way and still naps for 3-4hrs about every 6 hours around the clock! Crazy, huh?!!

[lionfamily1999]

Dd gets between 10 and 12 hours. I don't think she could sleep 16 without pulling an all nighter before.

[LuvingLife]

8 hours of sleep here, most of the time it is 10, but I study a lot at night and I can get by on eight hours of sleep no problem.

 

Too much sleep is not good for your body at all. It makes you lazy and sluggish and doesn't make you feel rested at all. 10 hours of sleep is just fine, 16 hours, he needs to be woken up after he passes the 10 hour mark. I like to use my little siblings to wake up my sister or a blowhorn always works too. But my favorite is taking the matress and flipping it over!:lol:

[EKS]

I think the person who advocates 16 hours has handwriting like my 8yo son--zero turns into 6. Ten hours makes sense.

 

And no, my 14yo son does not get 10 hours of sleep every night (by his own doing).

[Storm Bay]

8 hours of sleep here, most of the time it is 10, but I study a lot at night and I can get by on eight hours of sleep no problem.

 

Too much sleep is not good for your body at all. It makes you lazy and sluggish and doesn't make you feel rested at all. 10 hours of sleep is just fine, 16 hours, he needs to be woken up after he passes the 10 hour mark. I like to use my little siblings to wake up my sister or a blowhorn always works too. But my favorite is taking the matress and flipping it over!:lol:

 

While I think 16 is too much as a rule, some need more than 10 hours. My oldest friend needed 12 hours a night when she was a teen. That said, if a teen is growing unusually quickly, especially one who is enroute to being very tall, I could see that they'd need more than what most teens need.

[emonline]

7-8 hours on a good night here - 16 on a regular basis sounds like too much sleep to me!

[ereks mom]

...right for my dc.

[cindergretta]

I've never heard of 16 hours a night for anyone! LOL

 

My teens get about 9-10 hours a night. We also "allow" napping. IOW, there are no issues with taking naps if you are meeting your obligations IRT school and chores, etc. :) (But I don't think my teens would want to sleep that much! LOL They would miss out on too much!! :D )

[Big Buckin' Longhorn]

My son usually sleeps about 10 hours when he has class, around 12 when he doesn't have class but has homework and/or needs to study, and frankly when he's taking the "whole day off," 16 sounds about right.

 

Certainly not every night, but fairly regularly. He does love his sleep.

[Renee in NC]

Mine never sleeps more than 10-12 and that is only on the weekends, usually. If he sleeps to 3pm it is because he was up until 3 am!:lol: