Toddler Sleep Schedules: 12 to 36 Months

Most sleep trouble in the toddler years comes down to two things: the schedule no longer matches what your child needs, and nobody has a plan for the transition. This guide gives you typical sleep amounts, sample schedules, and step-by-step fixes for the 12-to-36-month stretch. All numbers are approximate ranges, not rules. Your child's mood, appetite, and behavior the next day tell you more than the clock does.

Why This Matters

Sleep drives growth, mood, and learning in this age range, and the schedule shifts more in these two years than at any other time. Your child drops from two naps to one, then may give up napping entirely. Miss those transitions and you get the classic signs: 5 a.m. wake-ups, a 40-minute fight at bedtime, or a toddler who melts down at breakfast.

Typical total sleep in 24 hours, including naps:

• 12–18 months: roughly 11–14 hours, usually one morning nap and one afternoon nap (some children this age are already down to one nap).
• 18–24 months: roughly 11–14 hours, typically one afternoon nap of about 1.5–2.5 hours.
• 24–36 months: roughly 10–13 hours, usually one nap of about 1–2 hours; some children near 3 start skipping naps a few days a week.

If your child is consistently outside these ranges but happy, eating, and functioning, the range is not the problem. If they are inside the range but miserable, the timing is probably off.

Getting Started

Before you change anything, spend three to five days writing down what actually happens. Note the time your child wakes, when they seem tired (eye rubbing, yawning, staring off, getting clumsy or silly), when they fall asleep, and how long they sleep. This log is your baseline, and it usually reveals the problem on its own — for example, a nap that starts at 4 p.m. and pushes bedtime to 9:30.

Then set a fixed morning wake time and work backward. Pick a wake time you can hold seven days a week, then place the nap and bedtime to fit the totals above. Sample days:

• 12–18 months (two naps): wake 6:30 a.m.; nap 1 at 9:00–10:00; nap 2 at 1:00–2:30; bedtime routine starts 6:45, lights out 7:15.
• 18–24 months (one nap): wake 6:30 a.m.; nap 12:30–2:30; bedtime routine starts 6:45, lights out 7:15.
• 24–36 months (one nap): wake 6:30–7:00 a.m.; nap 1:00–2:30; lights out 7:30–8:00.

Keep the bedtime routine short and the same every night: bath, pajamas, two books, lights out. Ten to twenty minutes is enough. The routine is the signal, so don't add steps you can't repeat on a bad night.

Key Strategies

Shift bedtime in small steps. To move bedtime earlier, put your child down 15 minutes earlier every three nights until you reach the target. To move it later, do the same in reverse. Small steps stick; a one-hour jump usually backfires.

Transition from two naps to one. Watch for the signs: the morning nap gets short or the afternoon nap gets pushed so late that bedtime falls apart. Move the single nap to about 12:30 p.m. and keep bedtime early (around 6:30–7:00) for the first week or two while your child adjusts. Expect a rough patch of roughly two to four weeks.

Handle the 18-month resistance. Many parents find that around 18 months a child suddenly fights naps or bedtime. This is usually developmental, not a sign the nap is over. Keep the routine identical, offer a comfort object, and stay boring and consistent. Don't add new props (a bottle, a parent lying down) that you'll have to remove later.

Cap the nap. If your child naps past about 3:30 p.m. or sleeps more than 2.5 hours, wake them gently. A late or long nap is the most common cause of a 9 p.m. bedtime.

Use a simple check-in method for night waking. If your child wakes and calls for you, go in briefly, reassure them in a flat voice, and leave. Repeat at increasing intervals (for example, 2, 5, then 10 minutes). Do the same each night. This works slowly; give it a week before judging it.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Keeping a child up later hoping they'll sleep in — overtired toddlers usually wake earlier and more often.
• Skipping the nap on a busy day — this almost always produces a harder bedtime, not an easier one.
• Changing the plan every night — pick one approach and hold it for at least a week.
• Using screens to wind down — they tend to delay sleep, not bring it on.

Safety basics for this age: use a firm mattress with a fitted sheet; keep pillows, thick quilts, and soft toys out of the crib or bed; place the bed away from windows and cords; and if your child climbs out of the crib, move them to a low toddler bed rather than adding a crib tent.

Who this applies to: these ranges fit healthy, full-term toddlers. If your child was born prematurely, use their corrected age when judging sleep needs. Children with reflux, sleep apnea symptoms (loud snoring, pauses in breathing), or developmental concerns should follow their doctor's advice instead.

When to Seek Help

Call your child's doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Loud snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Sleep that doesn't improve after two to three weeks of a consistent schedule and routine.
• Daytime sleepiness that interferes with eating, play, or growth.
• Frequent night terrors or nightmares that leave your child distressed the next day.
• Any concern about development, breathing, or behavior.

Bring your sleep log to the appointment. A week of real times and durations helps the doctor far more than a general description, and it often makes the answer obvious before you leave the room.