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 for 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 will depend on the child and how active they were that day. Avoid naps after 3.30pm so they will be ready for 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. 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.
