The Recommended Nap Length for Toddlers

12 to 24 Months

• Kids who are between the ages of 1 and 2 years typically require between 10 and 13 hours of sleep, according to child development experts with the Kids Health. website. This breaks down to about 11 1/4 hours of nighttime sleep and 2 1/2 hours of nap time for 12 month olds. For kids that are 18 months old, a 11 1/4-hour nighttime sleep and 2 1/4 hours of nap time is typical.

24 Months to 36 Months

• Toddlers who are between 24 and 36 months old need less sleep on average than younger toddlers. Toddlers who are 2 years old need about 11 hours of nighttime sleep and two hours of a nap while 3-year-old toddlers need 10 1/2 hours of nighttime sleep and 1 1/2 hours of a nap.

Timing of Nap

• Experts disagree about the timing of naps for toddlers. For example, pediatrician and author Dr. Sears says that most 2 year olds require a one-hour nap in the morning and a one-hour nap in the afternoon. He also says that some toddlers give up their afternoon nap before they turn 3. However, pediatrician Dr. Jodi Mindell says that the best time for a nap is in the early afternoon and that a toddler should not be allowed to nap past 4 p.m. because she may have problems sleeping at night.

Sleep Problems

• If your toddler has problems taking a nap, childcare experts recommend tuning into your toddler's signs that he is sleepy and setting him down at this time rather than trying to make him fit a certain schedule. Some signs of being tired include him rubbing his eyes, losing focus, getting fussy or yawning. However, having a consistent bedtime routine and set of rituals can also help your toddler sleep in a comfortable location. Also, look for culprits that may be causing your toddler to be having troubles, such as being too cold or being next to a room where there is too much noise.

Considerations

• Different children may have different sleep patterns. Pediatrician Greg Yapalater says that nap patterns are usually established during the child's infancy and that they often work around feeding schedules. A child's sleep pattern may also change if he is sent to day care, as the facility probably has a set schedule. The medical director of the Children's Health Center of Mercy Family Care in Baltimore, Charles Shubin, states that toddlers may need more sleep as they hit a growth spurt because toddlers need more energy during this time.