Ashwin Lewis
The amount of sleep a toddler needs varies depending on their age and individual needs. While there are averages, some toddlers may need less sleep than others. A low sleep needs child may need 1-2 hours less sleep than the average and may go through nap transitions earlier than other children. They may also sleep 9-10 hours at night and seem fit throughout the day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep totals | 9-10 hours at night |
| Cat naps | Often take cat naps and wake up happy and content |
| Energy levels | Don't get tired right after waking up and can stay awake for a full wake window |
| Sleepiness | Easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy |
| Time to fall asleep | Take a long time (>20 minutes) to fall asleep if bedtime is slightly too early |
| Sleep transitions | Go through nap transitions earlier than other children |
| Sleep environment | External factors such as parent-led sleep associations, too-long waketimes, or an unconducive sleep environment may prevent sufficient sleep |
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What You'll Learn
- How much sleep a toddler needs depends on their age?
- Some toddlers may need less sleep than others
- A toddler may need less sleep if they are content with less sleep than the average
- A toddler may need less sleep if they are happy and content after a cat nap
- A toddler may need less sleep if they are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy
How much sleep a toddler needs depends on their age
The amount of sleep a toddler needs depends on their age, but also varies from child to child. While some toddlers may need less sleep, others may need more. As a general rule, a toddler's sleep needs will decrease as they get older.
For example, a 4-month-old baby may need between 15 and 16+ hours of sleep in a 24-hour period (including naps and nighttime sleep). By the time they are 12-14 months old, their sleep needs may have decreased to between 13 and 14+ hours. And by the time they are 15-18 months old, they may only need between 12.5 and 14+ hours of sleep.
Some signs that your toddler may be ready to shorten or drop their daytime nap include how well they settle at night. If they are still taking a 2-hour nap during the day but are struggling to fall asleep at bedtime, it might be time to reduce their nap.
Toddlers with low sleep needs may also exhibit other behaviours, such as taking a long time to fall asleep at night (more than 20 minutes) if their bedtime is slightly too early, or moving around a lot when trying to fall asleep. They may sleep for 9-10 hours at night and seem fit and content throughout the day, waking up happy and taking short cat naps.
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Some toddlers may need less sleep than others
There are some signs that indicate your child has low sleep needs. They may often have catnaps and wake up happy and content. They don't get tired right after waking up and can stay awake for a full wake window. They usually sleep nine to ten hours at night and seem fit throughout the day. They are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy. They take a long time (more than 20 minutes) to fall asleep if bedtime is slightly too early. They move around a lot when trying to fall asleep.
If your child is clocking less than average sleep but often exhibits signs of overtiredness, it's possible that they may actually need more sleep than they are managing. Some of the signs that your child may not be sleeping enough include showing an overall lack of interest in people or their environment, and lots of yawning, ear pulling, and eye rubbing throughout their awake time.
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A toddler may need less sleep if they are content with less sleep than the average
Signs that your toddler is content with less sleep than the average include:
- They often have cat naps and wake up happy and content.
- They don't get tired right after waking up and can stay awake for a full wake window.
- They usually sleep 9-10 hours at night and seem fit throughout the day.
- They are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy.
- They take a long time (>20 minutes) to fall asleep if bedtime is slightly too early.
- They move around a lot when trying to fall asleep.
If your toddler is clocking less than average sleep but often exhibits signs of overtiredness, it’s possible that they may actually need more sleep than they are managing. Some of the signs that your child may not be sleeping enough include:
- Showing an overall lack of interest in people or their environment.
- Lots of yawning, ear pulling, and eye rubbing throughout their awake time.
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A toddler may need less sleep if they are happy and content after a cat nap
If your toddler is happy and content after a cat nap, they may be getting enough sleep. A child with low sleep needs will often have cat naps and wake up happy and content. They don't get tired right after waking up and can stay awake for a full wake window. They usually sleep 9-10 hours at night and seem fit throughout the day. They are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy. They may take a long time (>20 minutes) to fall asleep if bedtime is slightly too early. They move around a lot when trying to fall asleep.
If your toddler is getting less than average sleep but often exhibits signs of overtiredness, it's possible that they may actually need more sleep than they are managing. Some external factors that may be preventing them from obtaining sufficient sleep include parent-led sleep associations, too-long waketimes, a sleep environment that is not conducive to sleep, too many naps on the go, and too-late of a bedtime.
A good indication of whether your toddler is ready to shorten or drop their day sleep is how well they settle at that sleep and also at night. If your toddler still has a 2-hour day sleep but then takes forever to go to sleep at night, it's time to start reducing their nap.
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A toddler may need less sleep if they are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy
While the amount of sleep a toddler needs varies depending on their age, there are some signs that indicate your child has low sleep needs. A toddler may need less sleep if they are easy to wake up in the morning and don't get grumpy. They will often have catnaps and wake up happy and content. They don't get tired right after waking up and can stay awake for a full wake window. They usually sleep 9-10 hours at night and seem fit throughout the day. They take a long time (more than 20 minutes) to fall asleep if bedtime is slightly too early and they move around a lot when trying to fall asleep.
Sleep experts may tell you that your child needs to sleep 12 hours every night, but the truth is that most babies and toddlers do not sleep 12 hours every night. A low sleep needs child may need 1-2 hours less sleep than the average. They also might go through nap transitions earlier than other children, dropping the last nap at an early age.
If your toddler still has a 2-hour day sleep but then takes a long time to go to sleep at night, it's time to start reducing their nap. A good indication of whether your toddler is ready to shorten or drop their day sleep is how well they settle at that sleep and also at night.
However, if your child is clocking less than average sleep but often exhibits signs of overtiredness, it’s possible that they may actually need more sleep than they are managing. Some of the signs that your child may not be sleeping enough include an overall lack of interest in people or their environment, yawning, ear pulling, and eye rubbing throughout their awake time.
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Frequently asked questions
If your toddler is content with less sleep than the average, they may be a low sleep needs child. They may have cat naps and wake up happy and content, sleep 9-10 hours a night, and seem fit throughout the day.
The amount of sleep a toddler needs varies depending on their age. On average, a 12-14-month-old toddler will sleep between 13.5-14 hours in a 24-hour period, including naps and nighttime sleep.
If your toddler is exhibiting signs of overtiredness, such as a lack of interest in people or their environment, or lots of yawning and eye-rubbing, they may need more sleep.
If your toddler is still taking a 2-hour nap during the day but is struggling to fall asleep at night, it may be time to reduce their nap.
Establish a bedtime routine to help your toddler settle at night. Ensure their sleep environment is conducive to sleep, and consider using a sleep schedule or app to ensure they are getting the right amount of sleep at the right times.
