How much sleep does your toddler need?

You've made it through the months of sleepless nights that a newborn brings, but your toddler's sleep habits may be posing new problems.

As your child grows, her sleep needs will change. The table below outlines what you can expect according to her age. But remember that every toddler is different, and yours may need more or less sleep than this:

How much sleep does your toddler need?

AgeDaytime sleepNight-time sleepTotal sleep
18 months 2hrs (1 nap)11hrs 30mins13hrs 30mins
Two years1hr 30mins (1 nap)11hrs 30mins 13hrs
Three years1hr (1 nap)11hrs 30mins12hrs 30mins

Toddlers need a lot of sleep, but it isn't always plain sailing. Your little one may develop poor sleep habits and refuse to nap, or snub going to bed before 11pm. If this is the case, don't assume that she just doesn't need a lot of sleep. She may actually need more sleep.

To see if this is the case, ask yourself:
  • Does she fall asleep almost every time she's in a car?
  • Do you have to wake her almost every morning?
  • Does she seem irritable, or overtired during the day?
  • Does she sometimes fall asleep much earlier than her usual bedtime?

If you answered yes to any of these, your toddler may be getting less sleep than she needs. To change this pattern, you'll need to help her to develop good sleep habits and set a better bedtime. You may also need to deal with your toddler's stalling tactics. A structured and consistent routine will help.

As she gets older, your child will probably stop napping and start to sleep just at night. Once she's at nursery and infant school she will still need about 11 hours of sleep a night.

Find out how much sleep your preschooler needs.

Last reviewed: March 2012

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My son just turn 18month old and his nap time change before he sleep for 3 and 1/2 hrs now just only 1hrs and sumtime he refuse to take a nap and and ended into crying.but at nights to morning he always get 11hrs of sleep
I found that sticking to a routine of always getting up at the same time and going to bed at the same time my little boy would naturally want to sleep and wake at these set times. Even if he would not sleep straight away I still put him in bed for 7pm every night and woke him at 7am every morning even if he was still flat out. It was hard to do sometimes especially when you want some extra sleep in the morning yourself, we have all had that just 5 more mins feeling. Now without fail unless I'll he even askes to be carried up sometimes and enjoys his bedtime book and snuggle before bed.
hi the only problem is not sleeping in night even in mornings also she doesnt sleep also in night when she sleeps started midlle of night itself she will cry r she roamtotal bed so pls sugest me thanku vinod

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