Nap time: How many naps does a toddler need?
Did you know that your toddler’s sleeping habits during the day can impact how well they sleep at night?
Experts agree that children who have regular naps tend to have better immune systems, are usually better eaters, and also sleep better at night – all the more reason to encourage daytime naps!
But, how many naps does a toddler typically need during the day?
How much is enough?
According to childcare expert and author, Meg Faure, most toddlers over the age of 14 months only need one sleep during the day. “Offer your child a substantial snack at around 10:30am, then put them down for a good two-hour sleep at 11am,” she suggests.
“The hardest part will be trying to keep your little one awake until bedtime. If you feel that your toddler needs a little more sleep than this, try alternating days – one nap on one day, two naps the next – until they cope better with the new routine of just one midday sleep.”
From around 18 months, Faure suggests moving the midday nap to just after lunch. “Offer lunch at 11.30am, then put your toddler down for a nap at 12pm,” she advises. “Stick to this routine throughout the toddler years.”
When to wake them?
There’s no need to limit the length of your little one’s nap, as long as they sleep well at night. “At around three years old, you may find that your toddler starts waking up in the middle of the night and struggles to fall back asleep,” cautions Faure.
“This may be an indication that your toddler is sleeping for too long during the day.” In this case, Faure recommends reducing your child’s daytime nap to an hour or an hour and a half at most.
When are naps no longer required?
Every child is different – and so is their need for sleep. Some three-year-olds may drop their daytime nap and function well up until bedtime, while other five-year-olds don’t manage well at all.
“Follow your child’s lead for cues on when it’s time to drop the daytime sleep,” says Faure. If you find that your toddler lies awake for an hour during naptime after lunch – or if they struggle to fall asleep at bedtime – it might be time to drop that nap!
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