How much sleep do toddlers need?

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Toddlers need, on average, around 10-12 hours of sleep per night, and still need daytime naps. Not enough sleep can make your child clumsy, irritated and cranky. Try to settle your child for a nap before they become too overtired and agitated to relax. It's common for toddlers to start delaying tactics at naptime and bedtime because:

they don't want to miss out on anything
they're over-excited or anxious and can't relax
they're scared of the dark
they're hungry or thirsty, or have some other physical discomfort

To help your child settle for sleep you can:

make sure your child has plenty of fresh air and physical activity
establish a routine so he expects to go to bed at certain times
give your child time to wind down beforehand with gentle activities such as reading a story
make sure he is comfortable
give your child time to settle himself, then — if he's anxious without you — stay in the room for a few minutes
leave the bedroom door open so he can hear you
if your child won't nap, make sure he has a rest time when he's calm and quiet