Some toddlers sleep a lot; some refuse to sleep at all! If you’re wondering how much sleep your toddler actually needs in a day, the answer is between 10 and 14 hours, divided between naps and nighttime sleep. Those hours of shuteye are crucial to their growth and well-being.
In this article, we’ll discuss toddlers’ sleep needs and why getting enough of it matters. We’ll also talk about common sleep challenges and how to deal with them.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- The importance of sleep for toddlers
- How much sleep does a toddler need?
- How to tell if your toddler has gotten enough sleep
- Common sleep challenges and what to do
- When to visit the doctor
The importance of sleep for toddlers
There’s no denying the importance of sleep for any of us, but for growing toddlers, getting enough sleep is non-negotiable. During those hours of shut eye, your toddler’s body is incredibly busy. Let’s take a look!
Physical growth
Your little one is actually growing during sleep. This is because their body secretes growth hormones while they rest, which helps with cell building, muscle development, and tissue repair.
Brain development
During those hours of sleep, your toddler’s inner librarian is working away! That is to say, their brain is organizing all of their new motor and cognitive skills, filing them away into their long-term memory.
Emotional regulation
Sleep provides a “reset” that balances stress hormones and builds neural pathways that will help your toddler manage frustration. This is key because, without enough sleep, stress hormones spike, and voila, a meltdown.
Immune system support
Your toddler is also getting healthier as they sleep. That’s because their immune system uses this time to get stronger so it can protect against infections and illnesses.
How much sleep does a toddler need?
Toddlers between the ages of one and two years old need between 11 and 14 total hours of sleep a day. Typically, by this time, they’re sleeping more hours at night and are down to one or two naps a day.
Once your little one reaches three years old, they may need a bit less sleep, about 10 to 13 total hours. By this age, your little one is likely to only nap once or stop napping altogether, so the majority, if not all, of this sleep will be done at night.
How to tell if your toddler has gotten enough sleep
There are some pretty clear signs that your toddler is getting the right amount of sleep. If they’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (a.k.a. refreshed and alert) when they get up, that’s a great sign that they’ve clocked the right amount of hours!
Beyond that, if they’re meeting their developmental milestones and aren’t exhibiting any worrisome behavioral issues, they’re probably getting the sleep they need.
Common sleep challenges for toddlers and what to do
Of course, like everything else, sometimes the sleep situation does not go as planned. Here are some common reasons why and ways to get your toddler back on track with their zzzs.
Discomfort
Your little one may not be sleeping as well as they could because they’re not comfortable. Their room may be too hot or too cold, or it could be that they have a lumpy mattress (check for peas!).
The good news is this is easy to address. Set the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees, make sure the room is dark (blackout shades are a wonder), and invest in a good mattress. Our Newton mattresses are breathable and comfortable, supporting your toddler just right.
Sleep regression
Your toddler may be having a hard time sleeping due to a sleep regression. Regressions often happen around 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, thanks to developmental milestones like language growth and increased independence.
Luckily, sleep regressions are temporary, generally lasting two to six weeks. Just stick to the bedtime routine and stay the course!
Resistance to bedtime
“Just one more book, Mom, please?” Take out “book” and insert “snack,” “glass of water,” “goodnight hug.” Sound familiar? A determined toddler will do anything to delay hitting the hay!
When your toddler starts with the negotiations, the best thing to do is to get back to your bedtime routine, staying consistent and firm.
Waking in the night
Another common sleep issue toddlers have is waking in the night. To make matters worse, when they awaken in the wee hours, they often decide that if they’re up, you should be, too. They may even expect you to soothe them back to sleep, trading in your own shuteye.
If this is a common occurrence at home, it’s important to double down on encouraging them to fall asleep independently. Once they get the hang of it, if they do wake up at an ungodly hour, they’ll be better able to nod back off on their own.
Refusal to nap
It’s not uncommon for a toddler to try to put a kibosh on naptime. They’re just having too much fun during the daytime hours! If this is the case, you should reevaluate their nap schedule. Pushing it back by 15 to 30 minutes might do the trick.
You could also see if transitioning nap time into quiet time might work. If they do skip the nap completely, move up their bedtime by 30 to 60 minutes to avoid overtiredness.
Separation anxiety
Your little one may not be sleeping well because they’re afraid to be away from you. As sweet as it sounds, separation anxiety can be stressful for all involved.
But don’t worry! This is a normal stage when a toddler’s cognitive ability has nudged ahead of their emotional regulation, causing them to worry that mom or dad might not come back.
To help your child with this, always validate their feelings, and maybe give them a comfort item like a blanket or stuffed animal to cuddle while you’re gone. Also, maintain a goodnight ritual that’s short and special, and give them extra reassurance that you’ll be coming back.
Nightmares
Another common reason for not clocking the requisite night hours might be the proverbial monster under the bed: Nightmares. The best thing to do is to calm your toddler with a soothing hug and leave a nightlight on.
When to visit the doctor
Although most lapses in sleep quickly correct themselves, if your toddler is struggling with sleep for more than a couple of weeks or if you notice loud snoring, breathing pauses, or daytime hyperactivity, contact your pediatrician.
You’ll also want to get an evaluation if your toddler is excessively sleepy during the day, is having a hard time regulating their mood, or if they’re not growing or hitting age-appropriate milestones.
A good night’s sleep with Newton
There’s no doubt your toddler is going to need a good deal of sleep to maintain their growth and development, not to mention their abundance of energy! Remember: toddlers need anywhere from 10 to 14 hours of shuteye each day.
When it’s time to nod off, Newton’s breathable, washable Essential, Original, and Waterproof crib mattresses provide the right support and comfort. And when your toddler graduates to a twin bed, they can try our breathable Kids’ Twin Mattress.
With Newton, your toddler will be off to dreamland in no time!
Frequently asked questions
What time should my two-year-old go to bed?
Typically, a two-year-old’s ideal bedtime is between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.. This being said, every toddler is different, and the right time for them will depend on their wake time, how long they nap, and their individual sleep cues.
How do you reset an overtired toddler?
If your toddler is overtired, the first thing you want to do is remove any stimulation by turning down the lights and keeping it quiet. Then try to calm them down, speaking softly and calmly to them, perhaps offering them a stuffed animal or other comfort item.
Giving them a bath or simply switching rooms can also help.
