A good toddler sleep schedule isn’t about getting your child into bed at the same minute every day. It’s about making sure they get enough total sleep and maintain a reasonably predictable rhythm for their bodies.
As a general guide, children ages 1 to 2 need about 11–14 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period, including naps. Children ages 3 to 5 generally need 10–13 hours.
Some toddlers sleep a little longer at night and nap less. Others still need a solid daytime nap. Both can be completely normal.
If your child is generally alert and functioning well during the day, sleeping reasonably well at night, and getting enough total sleep, their schedule may be working well even if it looks different from another child’s.
How Much Sleep Toddlers Need (by Age)
The most useful number isn’t just nighttime sleep. It’s total sleep across the whole day, including naps.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommendations published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, children ages 1 to 2 should regularly get 11–14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, while children ages 3 to 5 should get 10–13 hours, including naps. These recommendations are designed to support optimal health and development.
| Age | Recommended Total Sleep | Typical Nap Pattern |
| Around 12–18 months | 11–14 hours | Often 1–2 naps |
| 2 years | 11–14 hours | Usually 1 nap |
| 3 years | 10–13 hours | Often 1 nap, though some begin dropping it |
| 4–5 years | 10–13 hours | Some still nap, while others no longer need one |
Canadian guidance is consistent with these ranges. The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend 11–14 hours, including naps, for toddlers ages 1–2 and 10–13 hours for preschoolers ages 3–4, which may include a nap. They also emphasize consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.
These aren’t targets your toddler has to hit perfectly every day. Individual sleep needs and nap patterns vary, so it’s more useful to look at your child’s total sleep over 24 hours and how well they’re functioning during the day.
These aren’t targets your toddler has to hit perfectly every day.
One 2-year-old might sleep from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and take a two-hour afternoon nap. Another may sleep longer overnight and have a shorter nap.
Both can still get an appropriate amount of sleep.
That’s why it’s usually more useful to ask “How much sleep does my toddler get in 24 hours?” rather than focusing only on bedtime.
Our daycare programs include both emergency daycare in Calgary and dependable Regular Hours Daycare to support different family schedules and needs.
Sample Sleep & Nap Schedules
The schedules below are examples, not rules.
Use them as starting points and adjust them around your child’s wake time, sleep needs, daycare schedule and how easily they fall asleep at night.
Around 12–18 months
Around the first birthday, some children are still comfortable with two naps while others are beginning the transition toward one.
Example schedule with two naps:
| Time | Routine |
| 6:30–7:00 a.m. | Wake up |
| 9:30–10:30 a.m. | Morning nap |
| 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Afternoon nap |
| 7:30 p.m. | Bedtime |
As your toddler moves toward one nap, that schedule might gradually become:
| Time | Routine |
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up |
| 12:00–2:00 p.m. | Nap |
| 7:30 p.m. | Bedtime |
Don’t rush the transition just because your child has reached their first birthday.
If they’re sleeping well at night and still genuinely need both naps, there may be no reason to change immediately.
2 Year Olds
A 2-year-old sleep schedule commonly includes one afternoon nap.
For example:
| Time | Routine |
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up |
| 12:30–2:00 p.m. | Nap |
| 7:30–8:00 p.m. | Bedtime |
If bedtime suddenly becomes difficult, review the entire schedule.
A very late or particularly long afternoon nap can sometimes leave a toddler less ready for sleep at their usual bedtime. But don’t automatically remove the nap after a few difficult evenings. Your child may still need daytime sleep and simply need a small schedule adjustment.
3 Year Olds
Three can be a tricky age for naps. Some 3-year-olds still clearly need an afternoon sleep. Others either resist it or comfortably make it through the day without one.
A schedule with a nap might look like:
| Time | Routine |
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up |
| 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Nap |
| 8:00 p.m. | Bedtime |
Without a nap, you may find your child needs an earlier bedtime:
| Time | Routine |
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up |
| 1:00 p.m. | Quiet/rest time |
| 7:00–7:30 p.m. | Bedtime |
Watch your child rather than the clock.
If skipping the nap consistently leads to late-afternoon meltdowns, to falling asleep in the car, or to an exhausted child at dinner, they may not be ready to give it up completely.
We provide age-based daycare services in Calgary for:
Nap Transitions (2 Naps to 1, Dropping the Nap)
Nap transitions rarely happen neatly overnight. A toddler might refuse their second nap for three days and then desperately need it on day four. A preschooler may skip naps all week but sleep after a particularly busy morning.
That’s normal.
Moving from two naps to one
Signs your toddler may be moving toward one nap include consistently refusing one of their usual naps, taking much longer to fall asleep for that nap, or having daytime sleep regularly interfere with bedtime.
Instead of immediately removing a nap, you can gradually shift the remaining nap toward the middle of the day. You may also need a slightly earlier bedtime while your child adjusts.
When do toddlers stop napping?
There isn’t one specific age when toddlers should stop.
The need for daytime sleep gradually decreases as children get older. By the preschool years, some children still benefit from naps while others get all the sleep they need overnight.
Rather than dropping the nap because of age alone, look at what’s happening across the whole day.
Your child may be ready when they regularly skip the nap and still:
- Stay reasonably happy and alert through the afternoon
- Make it to bedtime without becoming extremely overtired
- Sleep well overnight
- Get enough total sleep within 24 hours
If they’re exhausted by 4 p.m., the transition may be happening too quickly.
You can also replace nap time with quiet time. Looking at books, listening to a story, or doing another calm activity gives your child a chance to recharge without needing to sleep.
Building a Calming Bedtime Routine
Toddlers don’t need an elaborate 12-step bedtime ritual.
They need something predictable.
A simple toddler bedtime routine might be:
Bath → pyjamas → brush teeth → book → cuddle → bed.
The exact activities matter less than doing roughly the same calming things in the same order. Predictability helps your toddler understand what’s coming next.
Try to keep bedtime relatively consistent and make the final part of the evening quieter. Reading, cuddling or listening to soft music works better for winding down than exciting physical play.
And if bedtime has turned into endless negotiations — one more book, another drink, another hug, suddenly an urgent need to find a missing stuffed dinosaur — keep your boundaries warm but consistent. Toddlers are very good at discovering whether bedtime is actually bedtime.
Our three main daycare locations in Calgary include:
How Daycare Nap Times Work
Starting daycare can temporarily change your toddler’s sleep pattern.
At home, maybe your child usually naps at 12:15. At daycare, the group may settle down later. Or your toddler may initially sleep less because the environment, educators and other children are still new.
Give them some time to adjust.
Ask your daycare:
- When does the group usually nap or rest?
- How long is the normal rest period?
- How does my child’s age group transition between naps?
- What happens if my child doesn’t sleep?
- How will you tell me how long they napped?
- Can their routine be adjusted if sleep becomes a problem?
Then use that information at home.
For example, if your toddler barely sleeps at daycare one afternoon, an earlier bedtime may make more sense than trying to force the usual schedule.
If they consistently take a long nap at daycare and suddenly aren’t tired at bedtime, talk with their educators about what they’re seeing during the day before making major changes.
At Clever Daycare, sleep and rest are treated as part of a child’s daily routine rather than as something completely separate from play, meals, and development. Parents and educators can share information about how a child is sleeping so their routine can be supported as consistently as practical between daycare and home.
Looking for daycare in Calgary? Talk with the Clever Daycare team about your child’s daily routine, nap needs and transition into care. Book a tour to see how our educators support children’s routines throughout the day.
FAQ
How much sleep does a 1-year-old need?
Children ages 1 to 2 generally need around 11–14 hours of total sleep in 24 hours, including naps. Individual sleep patterns within that range can vary.
How much sleep does a 2-year-old need?
A 2-year-old generally needs around 11–14 hours in a 24-hour period, including their daytime nap. Many 2-year-olds take one nap during the day.
How much sleep does a 3-year-old need?
Children ages 3 to 5 generally need 10–13 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period, including naps if they still take them.
What time should a 2-year-old go to bed?
There isn’t one correct bedtime. Work backwards from your child’s usual morning wake time, daytime nap and total sleep needs. For many families, bedtime falls somewhere around 7:00–8:00 p.m., but your child’s individual schedule matters more than matching a specific clock time.
When do toddlers switch from two naps to one?
The transition often happens during the second year of life, but there’s considerable individual variation. Look for consistent changes in your child’s sleep rather than dropping a nap simply because they’ve reached a certain age.
When do toddlers stop napping completely?
There’s no exact age. Many children gradually stop napping during the preschool years. Some 3-year-olds still need a daily nap, while others begin doing well with quiet time instead.
Should I wake my toddler from a long nap?
A long or late nap can sometimes affect bedtime, but whether you should wake your child depends on their age, total sleep, nap timing and nighttime sleep. If you’re regularly dealing with bedtime or sleep problems, speak with your child’s healthcare professional.
Why won’t my toddler sleep at daycare?
A new environment can make sleep difficult at first. Different sounds, routines, caregivers and other children can all take some getting used to. Talk with the educators about whether your child is gradually settling into the daycare routine.
Should daycare and home nap times be the same?
Not necessarily. Keeping them reasonably consistent can help, but exact matching isn’t always practical. Focus on your child’s total sleep and how they’re functioning throughout the day.
When should I worry about my toddler’s sleep?
Talk with your child’s healthcare professional if your toddler regularly struggles to fall or stay asleep, seems unusually sleepy during the day, snores frequently, has loud or difficult breathing during sleep, or you have ongoing concerns about the amount or quality of their sleep.
How long should a toddler nap?
There isn’t one ideal nap length for every toddler. Many toddlers take a daytime nap of around 1 to 2 hours, but individual needs vary. What matters most is your child’s total sleep across 24 hours, their daytime behaviour and whether naps are interfering with nighttime sleep.
