Every child needs a different amount of sleep. Your child may need more or less sleep than the average for their age group.
A good night's sleep is a very important part of your child's health.
By about 2 years
Your child needs about 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night.
They need 1 nap during the day for up to 2 hours. Avoid naps after 3.30pm so they will be ready to sleep by 7pm to 9pm.
From about 2 to 3 years
Your child needs about 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night.
They need 1 nap during the day for about 1 hour. This depends on the child and how active they were that day. Avoid naps after 3.30pm so they will be ready to sleep by 7pm to 9pm.
From about 3 to 5 years
Your child needs about 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night.
At age 3, they may need 1 nap during the day of up to 1 hour. Not all children need this nap. Some quiet time reading and playing may be enough.
Your child may be very tired when they come home from pre-school or their childminder. This is especially true when they start pre-school. New activities and routines will tire them.
Holidays, illness or a change in routine can often upset sleep. Try to get them back into a good bedtime routine as soon as you can after the event.
Bedtime routine
Keeping to a bedtime routine will help your child to know what to expect. It also helps them to feel secure and loved.
Bedtime routines for children age 2 to 5 years
When to put them to bed
Try not to put your child to bed too early. Any time between 7pm and 8pm is a good time to start the bedtime routine.
A child should fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed. They may not be able to do this right away.
If they do not fall asleep within 30 minutes:
- Have a late bedtime for a while so they fall asleep within 30 minutes.
- Then put them to bed 15 minutes earlier every few nights until you reach the bedtime you want.
- Keep to the same morning wake-up time while you do this.