How Much Sleep Does a Toddler Need? Naps, Bedtimes and Sample Schedules

Toddlers aged 1 to 2 need 11 to 14 hours of sleep every 24 hours, including naps, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Once they turn 3, the range becomes 10 to 13 hours, still counting naps.

That total is split between a long night and one or two daytime naps. How it's divided shifts a lot between a first birthday and a third.

Toddler sleep by age

These ranges are wide on purpose. Some toddlers are happy at the low end, others need the top. Your child's mood, energy and how easily they fall asleep tell you more than the clock. The sleep needs by age calculator shows the range for any age.

Sample toddler schedules

These examples show how naps and night sleep can add up to a healthy total. Times are sleep opportunity, meaning time in the crib or bed, so actual sleep will be a bit less.

Your child doesn't need to match these exactly. They're a starting point you can shift earlier or later around your family's day.

Typical toddler bedtimes

For toddlers who wake between about 6:00 and 7:30 AM, bedtimes somewhere between 6:30 and 8:00 PM usually fit the recommended totals. Earlier bedtimes tend to suit children who nap less or wake earlier. A later bedtime may work if your toddler takes a long afternoon nap.

Watch for tired signs such as rubbing eyes, clinginess or a sudden burst of wild energy. Putting a toddler down once they're overtired can make it harder for them to settle. For school-age children, see the bedtime chart for kids, and for the teen years, how much sleep teenagers need.

When do toddlers drop naps?

Most toddlers still need a daytime nap. A review of napping studies from around the world found that fewer than 2.5% of children stop napping before age 2, while about 94% have stopped by age 5. The preschool years, roughly 3 to 5, are when napping changes the most, and the timing varies a lot from child to child.

Going from two naps to one usually happens earlier, commonly sometime in the second year. Signs your toddler may be ready to change their nap routine:

• They regularly fight or skip one of their naps
• A nap pushes bedtime so late that they lie awake for a long time
• They take a long time to fall asleep at night but seem fine during the day
• They wake very early in the morning after a long nap

Change gradually. When moving to one nap, you can shift the morning nap a little later every few days until it becomes a single midday nap. When dropping the last nap, "quiet time" in their room and an earlier bedtime on busy days can ease the change.

Helping toddlers sleep well

• Keep a predictable routine, such as bath, pajamas, teeth, books and lights out, in the same order every night.
• Start the routine 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Keep the room dark, quiet and comfortable. A dim night-light is fine if it helps.
• Keep screens out of the hour before bed.
• Aim for consistent wake-up and bedtimes, including weekends where you can.
• Plenty of daylight and active play during the day help build healthy sleep pressure by evening.

When to talk to your pediatrician

Every toddler has rough nights, especially during illness, teething or big changes like a new sibling. Check with your child's pediatrician if your toddler:

• Snores loudly most nights, or gasps or pauses in breathing while asleep
• Is very sleepy or unusually irritable during the day despite enough time in bed
• Wakes many times every night over a long period
• Has sleep problems that worry you, or that affect the whole family

Your pediatrician knows your child and can help sort out what's normal and what needs a closer look.