Health hubs / Children's health: education
Sleep and growth hormone
Growth hormone peaks in deep sleep. Official sleep targets by age.
Talk to your pediatrician. This section is education only and does not replace your child's medical care. Doses for children are only quoted from official guidance (AAP, NIH ODS, WHO).
The physiology
A classic study found the largest growth hormone release occurs shortly after sleep onset, during slow-wave sleep [1].
Official targets
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, endorsed by the AAP, recommends per 24 hours: 12 to 16 hours at 4 to 12 months, 11 to 14 hours at 1 to 2 years, 10 to 13 hours at 3 to 5 years, 9 to 12 hours at 6 to 12 years, and 8 to 10 hours at 13 to 18 years, naps included for younger children [2].
Sources
- Takahashi et al. 1968, J Clin Invest. doi.org/10.1172/JCI105893
- Paruthi et al. 2016, J Clin Sleep Med (AASM). doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5866
DOIs verified against Crossref and official pages checked on 2026-10-15.