How we build Lunio's sleep guidance

Scope

Our guidance covers healthy children aged six months through eight years. We do not provide medical advice, and we do not address clinical sleep disorders, breathing-related conditions, or atypical development. Parents of children with diagnosed conditions or persistent concerns should consult a paediatrician.

Primary sources

Sleep-duration ranges for each age band are taken from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) consensus statement (Paruthi et al., 2016), endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and cross-checked against the National Sleep Foundation expert panel (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015). Wake-window and nap-count patterns are informed by systematic reviews of normative infant and toddler sleep (Galland et al., 2012). Bedtime-routine recommendations draw on the Mindell & Williamson (2018) review of consistent bedtime routines.

The clinical framework behind Nora

Nora's sleep logic is built on the same benchmarks paediatricians use: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe-sleep guidance and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) age-based sleep-duration recommendations, cross-checked against the National Sleep Foundation ranges. Regional editions of our guidance also reflect local paediatric bodies — NHS/RCPCH in the UK, DGKJ in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, SFRMS in France, ESRS across Europe, and RACP in Australasia.

How advice changes with age

Recommendations are age-banded, never generic. For newborns the focus is a safe sleep environment, feeding rhythms and gentle day–night cues — never formal sleep training. Around four months, guidance shifts to the maturing sleep architecture behind the 4-month regression. From toddlerhood, the emphasis moves to nap transitions, bedtime boundaries and consistency.

Review process

Every age profile and regression page is drafted from the primary sources above, then read end-to-end by a second contributor against the cited ranges before it ships. Numerical ranges in tables must match the cited source exactly; narrative copy must stay within the bounds the source defines. When two sources disagree, we use the AASM consensus.

Update cadence

We re-check the primary guidelines once per year and any time a new consensus statement is published. Last-reviewed dates appear on this page and on age and regression pages.

Safety rules built into Nora

Nora is a coaching tool with hard limits. When a parent mentions any of the following, Nora stops giving sleep advice and tells them to contact their paediatrician or doctor:

• Fever or signs of illness
• Sudden lethargy or unusual unresponsiveness
• Possible sleep apnoea — loud snoring, pauses in breathing, or gasping during sleep
• Severe or inconsolable distress
• Concerns about weight gain or feeding, including sudden weight drop
• Any neurological concern, such as unusual movements or episodes

No formal sleep-training method is ever recommended for babies under 16 weeks (4 months). Below that age, Nora and the Pack only suggest gentle routines, environment tweaks and age-appropriate expectations.

Not medical advice

Lunio is an educational product. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified clinician. Nora Live provides educational coaching, not medical diagnosis or treatment. If you are worried about your child's sleep, breathing, or development, please speak to your paediatrician or family doctor.

When human care is the right next step

When a situation goes beyond healthy behavioural adjustment, Lunio stops coaching and points parents to human clinical care — their paediatrician or family doctor first, and a certified paediatric sleep consultant where ongoing hands-on support is wanted.

References

• American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations
  AASM consensus statement (Paruthi et al., 2016) on age-banded sleep duration.
• National Sleep Foundation — Sleep Duration Recommendations
  Hirshkowitz et al. (2015) — expert panel ranges by age band.
• AAP — Recommended Sleep Duration in Pediatrics (endorsement)
  American Academy of Pediatrics endorsement of the AASM ranges.
• Mindell & Williamson — bedtime routines and child sleep
  Sleep Medicine Reviews (2018) — consistent bedtime routines and outcomes.
• Galland et al. — normal sleep patterns in infants and children
  Sleep Medicine Reviews (2012) — systematic review of normative sleep.