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A napping child is a free moment to savor, you can grab a coffee, sit in your favorite chair, and take a breather. Naptime gives you a little break from your full of beans toddler but as your child grows, the required naps become fewer and fewer. Let’s discover what signs tell you your child is ready to stop napping and how you can deal with the transition.
Your toddlers nap time is determined by their energy levels and routine throughout the day
Your toddlers nap time is determined by their energy levels and routine throughout the day. Every child is unique with some needing more nap time than others. Toddlers need around 12 hours of sleep every day with the majority of their sleep time being at night. If your child has a had night’s sleep, they may need a longer nap during the day.
If your toddler’s regular nap time is met with tantrums rather than sleep or it takes them much longer to fall asleep, it could be a sign they are ready to stop napping. As your little one grows nap length will lessen or stop entirely.
If your toddler is not sleepy when it’s their bedtime or you’re struggling to get them to fall asleep at night, it may be time to drop the day nap times. If your toddler refuses to nap during the day or naps later in the day, this can be disastrous for their nighttime routine. As your toddler grows they will be able to handle more wake time hours playing and having fun.
A toddler nap strike is when your little one forgoes their nap and goes to bed at night with no issues. They are awake all day without feeling sleepy or cranky. There may be days here and there when they are not interested in napping, but, If this is occurring over a prolonged period of time, your child could be ready to cut the naps out.
For a growing toddler, sleep aids their development
If there are no toddler napping issues and your little one enjoys their nap times and falls asleep easily during the day, they still need their extra sleep. Also, If you try to wake them up and they get cranky and fussy, then they still need their nap times during the day.
A lack of sleep affects us all, we get irritable, lose focus, and become short tempered. It’s the same for your toddler, if they’re prevented from taking their nap they can become difficult to handle and a little bundle of grouch. If your child doesn’t nap and becomes irritable sometime before bedtime, they may need to continue with their day nap times.
If your toddler is yawning throughout the day, rubbing their eyes sleepily, and seem less energetic, they are not ready to drop the naps.
Sleep is essential to your physical health and mental wellbeing. For a growing toddler, sleep aids their development and along with a healthy diet, helps them to grow big and strong. A 20-minute nap can help an adult focus and learn a new skill and has equal effects on toddlers. Helping them to learn through play.
Toddlers nap time help them to:
Toddlers dropping naps can be a gradual process. Nap transition happens quickly in the first year of your child’s life, going from 6 naps to 2 naps and at 15 months could drop to 1 nap.
To adjust your toddlers nap time:
A power nap of 20 minutes increases alertness and cognitive function in adults and has equal positive benefits for children
Age |
Hours of Sleep Needed Per Day (Aprox) |
1-4 weeks |
17 hours |
1-4 months |
16-17 hours |
4 months to 1 year |
14-15 hours |
1-3 years |
12-14 hours |
3-6 years |
11-12 hours |
7-12 years |
10-12 hours |
13-18 years |
8-10 hours |
A power nap of 20 minutes increases alertness and cognitive function in adults and has equal positive benefits for children.
Check out our nap length guide, here.
Age |
Recommended Hours of Sleep |
Minimum Sleep Requirements |
Inadvisable |
0-3 months |
14-17 hours |
11 hours |
Less than 11 hours |
4-11 months |
12-15 hours |
10 hours |
Less than 10 hours |
1-2 yes |
11-14 hours |
9 hours |
Less than 9 hours |
3-5 years |
10-13 hours |
8 hours |
Less than 8 hours |
6-13 years |
9-11 hours |
7 hours |
Less than 7 hours |
14-17 years |
8-10 hours |
7 hours |
Less than 7 hours |
If your toddler is feeling a little crabby during the day it’s advisable to let them take a nap for up to 2 hours. If your 2 year old won't nap on consecutive days over a prolonged period, they may be ready to drop the nap times. This is a natural sign that your little one is growing up, although you’ll miss those treasured hours of silence, you’ll enjoy more playtime, watching their little cheeky personalities blossoming.
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By 18 months, your little one should transition from 2 naps to 1. By 5 years old your child will no longer need regular naps. Although the occasional nap will be needed when they are ill or have had a bad night’s sleep, or have been traveling and their typical sleep schedule is interrupted.
A toddler needs 11-13 hours of sleep per night and an afternoon nap of 1-3 hours per day. Some toddlers may need 1-2 naps per day, depending on their energy and activity levels. Naps should be in the early afternoon, late naps can interrupt your toddlers night time routine, making them cranky and preventing nighttime sleep.
Put your toddler to nap in their bed where they sleep at night, use the same sleep hygiene techniques as you use for their bedtime. Read them a short story, take a short drive, or offer a little reward for napping. You could soothe them with quiet time that will help them wind down for their nap.
For babies and toddlers, naps are essential to their development and mood. Just as naps improve focus and creativity in adults, babies and toddlers need naps to help them grow and learn. Watch your toddler’s moods, if they are cranky in the afternoon, they may need a nap. If full of energy all day, they may no longer need naps.
Most preschoolers will have one afternoon nap per day for up to two hours. If your child is full of energy all day, they don’t get cranky or act like they’re overtired, they could be one of the many toddlers dropping naps. But, a little toddler quit time every day is still beneficial for their development.
An adult will benefit greatly from a 20-minute power nap during the day, with improved focus, learning ability, and creativity. For children, a 1-3 hour nap during the early afternoon aids their development, mood, and learning abilities. Take a nap to boost creativity, learning, focus, and elevated good mood at any age.