By Angelica Videla — Certified Baby and Toddler Sleep Consultant, London | Supporting families across the UK, Europe, US, and Australia
Quick Answer
Toddlers aged 1 to 3 years typically need 11 to 14 hours of total sleep in 24 hours. Most toddlers transition from 2 naps to 1 nap between 13 and 18 months, and drop the nap entirely between 2.5 and 3.5 years. Bedtime between 7pm and 8pm works best for most toddlers, with wake windows of 4 to 6 hours depending on age.
How much sleep does a toddler need?
Sleep needs change significantly across the toddler years.
12–18 months: 13–14 hours total (including 1–2 naps)
18 months–2 years: 12–13 hours total (1 nap)
2–3 years: 11–13 hours total (1 nap or quiet rest)
3+ years: 10–12 hours total (nap optional)
Toddler sleep schedules by age
12–15 months (transitioning from 2 naps to 1)
Most toddlers make the 2-to-1 nap transition between 13 and 18 months. Before the transition is complete, schedules can feel unstable — one nap days going well, two nap days also needed.
Sample 2-nap schedule (pre-transition): 7:00am Wake, 9:30–10:00am Nap 1 (45–75 min), 2:00–2:30pm Nap 2 (45–60 min), 7:00–7:30pm Bedtime.
Sample 1-nap schedule (post-transition): 7:00am Wake, 12:00–12:30pm Nap (1.5–2.5 hours), 7:00–7:30pm Bedtime.
15–18 months (established 1 nap)
Wake windows: 4–5 hours. Nap: 1.5–2.5 hours, offered around 12pm. Bedtime: 7:00–7:30pm.
Sample schedule: 7:00am Wake, 12:00–12:15pm Nap (1.5–2 hours), 2:00pm Wake from nap, 7:00–7:30pm Bedtime.
18 months–2 years
Wake windows: 4.5–5.5 hours. Nap: 1–2 hours, offered 12–12:30pm. Bedtime: 7:00–7:30pm.
At this age the 18-month sleep regression often hits — sudden bedtime resistance, night waking, and nap refusal. See our 18 month sleep regression article.
2–2.5 years
Wake windows: 5–6 hours. Nap: 1–1.5 hours (some days skipped). Bedtime: 7:00–7:30pm.
Around 2 years, nap refusal begins to appear more frequently. This is not always a sign that the nap should be dropped — many 2 year olds still need it.
2.5–3.5 years (nap transition)
Most children stop napping between 2.5 and 3.5 years. Signs of genuine nap readiness: consistently refusing the nap for 4 to 6 weeks, managing nap-free days without falling apart, and night sleep staying consistent without a nap.
No-nap schedule: 7:00am Wake, 12:30–1:00pm Quiet rest time, 7:00–7:30pm Bedtime (earlier during transition).
Common toddler sleep challenges
Bedtime resistance — extremely common from 18 months onwards. A fixed, predictable bedtime routine with a clear endpoint is the most effective tool. See our bedtime struggles hub.
Night waking — toddlers who wake at night are usually experiencing separation anxiety, overtiredness, or a sleep association. See our toddler separation anxiety at bedtime article.
Early morning waking — the most common cause in toddlers is the nap ending too late or bedtime being too late. See our early morning wakings hub.
Dropping the nap too early — one of the most common mistakes. Nap refusal during a regression or on individual days is not the same as being ready to drop the nap. Most toddlers need a nap until at least 2.5 to 3 years.
Why toddler sleep feels so unpredictable
Toddler sleep is affected by development in ways that baby sleep is not. Language development, emotional maturity, separation anxiety, new skills — all of these show up in sleep during the toddler years. The 18-month and 2-year regressions are two of the most intense of childhood.
The families who navigate toddler sleep most smoothly are usually those who maintain a consistent schedule and routine even when individual nights are difficult, rather than making large reactive changes after one bad night.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of sleep does a toddler need?
Most toddlers need 11 to 14 hours of total sleep in 24 hours. At 12 to 18 months, around 13 to 14 hours including a nap. By 2 to 3 years, around 11 to 13 hours.
When do toddlers drop to one nap?
Most toddlers transition from 2 naps to 1 between 13 and 18 months. Dropping before 13 months almost always creates overtiredness.
When do toddlers stop napping altogether?
Most children stop napping between 2.5 and 3.5 years. Some children nap until 4 years or beyond. Quiet rest time even without sleep is beneficial through the preschool years.
What time should a toddler go to bed?
Between 7pm and 7:30pm works for most toddlers. Earlier — around 6:30pm — is appropriate on days when the nap was short or skipped.
My toddler keeps getting out of bed — what do I do?
A consistent, boring return-to-bed response without prolonged interaction is most effective. A toddler clock that shows when it is time to stay in bed and when it is time to get up gives clear visual boundaries.
Is there a sleep regression at 2 years?
Yes — the 2 year sleep regression is driven by cognitive development and often coincides with life transitions like a new sibling or starting nursery.