Are you wondering if your child is getting enough sleep each day? Sleep restores your mind and body energy for the next day.
How much is enough?
Toddlers need as much as 12-15 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period. You may think this sounds like a lot of sleeping, but the rapid growth that children are going through takes a lot of energy.
- Naps are included in the 12-15 hours of sleep that toddlers need.
- Missing even one hour of sleep can make a big difference in a toddler’s behavior and mood.
- If your child attends day care and depending on your child’s individual needs, at this age your child may be getting one to two naps during the day. Be sure to communicate with your child care provider to know what time during the day naps are and how long your child is sleeping. It’s important to keep the same routine at home during the weekends.
Sleep my child
Learn how to determine if your child is getting enough sleep.
- Behavior and mood. If your child is not getting enough sleep, it will likely affect their behavior. Compare your child’s behavior when they do get enough sleep to a night when they don’t get as much sleep as usual. It is likely that your child will act out and seem hyperactive like they have a lot of energy. In reality they are overtired and the lack of sleep is affecting their behavior.
- Health and growth. During sleep, your body recharges just as a battery charges while being plugged in. It is a time that the brain is refueling for the next day. While sleeping, the body is repairing itself and growing. Ever notice that your child sleeps a lot when they feel sick? The reason is because the body is fighting off the illness and trying to repair itself and this takes a lot of energy.
- Daytime effects. There are things that may affect your child’s evening and nighttime behavior. Do not give your child caffeine during the day. Like adults, this will affect sleep at naptimes and night. Do not allow your child to skip a nap during the day. Your toddler will be overtired at night and it will be more difficult to get to sleep at night.
Set a routine
It is important to keep a bedtime routine with your toddler. This will help your toddler to be able to predict what is coming next and be less likely to put up a fight. Here are a few suggestions to help your toddler settle down for the evening:
- Turn down the lights in the house. This will set the mood for the body to slow down and relax.
- Shut off screens. Avoid screen time right before bedtime. The light from the screen stimulates the brain instead of quieting it in preparation for sleep.
- Send bedtime reminders. Let your child know what is coming next and how many minutes they have to finish their current activity. This warning will lessen a power struggle and give them time to stop what they are doing and prepare their brain for what is coming next.
- Take a warm bath. Warm water can calm down your child’s body.
- Prep bedtime tasks. Don’t forget necessary tasks such as putting on pajamas and brushing teeth. If your child gets used to these things being part of the routine, they’re less likely to start a power struggle when completing these tasks.
- Read a book. Reading can be a relaxing and bonding activity for you and your toddler. Decide together how many books you are going to read so your child is prepared, and you avoid an argument about “just one more book.”
Sanford Fit’s website has free resources for parents about the importance of sleep for your child. You can find even more ideas for bedtime routines and habits. Don’t forget to check your own sleep habits so you are prepared to parent a little toddler.
Learn more
- Toddlerhood can spark the ‘go back to bed’ struggle
- Why your child needs plenty of z’s
- Is your baby getting all the sleep needed? Are you?
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Posted In Children's, Family Medicine, Parenting, Sleep Medicine
