verb (used with or without object), bifurcated, bifurcating. 1. to divide or fork into two branches. adjective. 2. divided into two branches.
Advertisement. By the Numbers. According to the National Sleep Foundation, newborns should sleep 12 to 18 hours out of every 24 (every new parent hopes), with a gradual reduction to 12 to 14 hours for toddlers ages 1 to 3; 11 to 13 hours for preschoolers 3 to 5; and (yes!) 10 to 11 hours for schoolchildren ages 5 to 10.
Fatigue is also common when you're feeling down. How much sleep do you need? The need for sleep can vary quite a lot between individuals, although it's usual to require less sleep as you get older. Children. Small children often need a lot of sleep. Toddlers, for example, need between 14 and 16 hours a day. The need for sleep slowly declines through childhood. Most schoolchildren will need at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep to be at their best during the day. Teenagers function best on 9 hours per night, but few get that much.