Do I Need Less Sleep as I Get Older?

Newborns sleep most of the day, while their parents may have to function on less than three hours of shuteye. But do sleep needs really vary that drastically by age?

The short answer is yes, says Pantcho Maslinski, MD, a sleep specialist with Hartford HealthCare’s Ayer Neuroscience Institute Sleep Center at Windham Hospital.

Your optimal amount of sleep, however, is a mix of science and the reality of life, says Dr. Maslinski. Here’swhat you should take into account.