There are a million ways your child could potentially avoid going to sleep [1] at night — how is it that they're suddenly so thirsty at bedtime? — but new official guidelines [2] that lay out how many hours of sleep your child needs reveal why fighting that endless bedtime battle [3] is so important.

It's no surprise to any parent that a well-rested child is a happy child, but a sufficient night's sleep is also linked to improved attention span, behavior, and learning [4], as well as good mental and physical health. Conversely, a lack of sleep increases your child's risk of obesity, depression, diabetes, and accidents, which is why this guide to sleep — based on scientific evidence comparing sleep duration and health — from experts at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is so important.

Check the table below to find out how much sleep your child [5] should be getting, from 4 months old straight into adulthood.