Total sleep is not only night sleep
AASM recommends 12–16 hours of total sleep per 24 hours, including naps, for babies aged 4–12 months; 11–14 hours for children aged 1–2 years; and 10–13 hours for children aged 3–5 years. Individual needs vary within these ranges.
Overtiredness can make settling harder
Deliberately removing a nap may increase evening fussiness for some children. Rather than assuming an exhausted child will fall asleep more easily, observe behaviour and total sleep over several days.
Review long naps late in the day
For older children, a long nap that continues into the evening may delay bedtime. If this becomes a pattern, adjust the start time or duration gradually instead of removing the nap suddenly.
Allow age-related transitions
The number of naps decreases with age, although some children continue to nap during the preschool years. Instead of relying on one age cut-off, consider evening behaviour, morning waking and daytime energy together.
Create a one-week sleep record
- Write down the morning waking time.
- Record the beginning and end of every nap.
- Note when the evening routine begins and when your child falls asleep.
- Look for repeated evening fussiness and night wakings.
Make small adjustments: Observe for several days where possible. Avoid making a major change to both naps and bedtime at the same time.