Useful Toddler Sleep Facts

Every child is unique and their needs are different so use these sleep facts simply as a guideline. The sleep facts for one child will not be exatly the same as another's! We want to give you toddler sleeping facts and guidelines so you have some information to start from. And with good sleeping facts you can help your toddler develop better sleeping habits.

Sleep and Medical Conditions
Sleeping problems in toddlers is very common. However, to rule out anything more serious, you firstly need to check with your doctor whether there might be a medical condition affecting your child's sleep.

Examples that might result in your toddler sleeping badly include an allergy to dairy or wheat, ear infections and teething which all may cause pain or discomfort which in turn effects their sleep.

The sleeping habits that are formed during these problem times may then linger on after the problem itself has disappeared. If this is the case then a structured bedtime routine and your child's sleeping habits need to be taught again.

Other chronic conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes or medication associated with them may also produce sleep problems. Children with learning disabilties often also have sleep problems and find it difficult to learn new sleeping habits.

So it's worth seeing your doctor first to check that your toddler is in good health and that the sleep problems are not caused by any underlying problem. Be sure not to assume that the sleep facts listed here are a must for your child - you may be missing a medical condition that requires attention.

How much sleep does a toddler need?

Each child is so individual and so this varies widely. However, on average:
A child aged 12 months needs around 2½ hours during the day and 11½ hours at night time
A child aged 2 years needs around 1¼ hours during the day and 11¾ hours at night time
A child aged 3 years needs about 1 hour during the day and 11 hours at night time
A child aged 4 years needs no sleep during the day but 11½ hours at night time.

So during their toddler years your child will need around 12 to 14 hours sleep.

How many naps should my toddler have?
1 year olds generally have two naps during the day. A study by the U.S.-based National Sleep Foundation found that majority of toddlers (87%) are having one nap by the age of 18 months. By the time they reach 2 years only 19% did not take any naps.

By the time your child is 2½ to 3½ she may drop all naps but still needs 11 - 13 hours sleep during the night.

Nap time is very important - it requires you to have a schedule that fits in with her nap time. Driving in the afternoon, going for a walk in the buggy should be avoided if you want her to go down in the early evening.

Where should your toddler sleep?
Your child needs ideally needs to sleep in one place which she associates with sleep, and therefore, this should be in her bedroom in her cot or her own bed.

However, some families prefer sleeping in a family bed, known as co-sleeping. We will discuss the pros and cons of co-sleeping separately.

Also, sleep during nap time is often taken in the buggy for a walk, in the car on a trip, or at nursery on a nap mat or in a cot. Ideally it should be where your child sleeps at night time but this isn't always practical.

How Common Are Sleep Problems?
Around 20% of 2 year olds wake regularly during the night and one of the most common reasons for toddlers waking frequently in the night is that they associate sleep with an external object or person.

Use these sleep facts to have a benchmark to start from but do remember that each child is unique and your child's sleeping facts and habits will be different to another's!