Sleep Needs at 24 Months
Two-year-olds need 11-14 hours of total sleep, with 11-12 hours at night and a single nap of 1-2.5 hours. This nap will continue for most children until age 3-3.5. Your toddler's sleep needs are starting to look more like a preschooler's, with a well-defined daytime and nighttime routine.
Wake windows are about 345 minutes (5 hours 45 minutes) before the nap and 300 minutes (5 hours) before bedtime. These are the longest wake windows your child has had, and they'll continue to grow slowly over the next year.
Sample Schedule
- 6:30 AM — Wake up
- 12:15 PM — Nap (1-2.5 hours)
- 7:00 PM — Bedtime routine
- 7:30 PM — Bedtime
The 2-Year Sleep Regression
The 2-year regression is fueled by a combination of newfound independence, separation anxiety, imagination-based fears, language development, and possible potty training. Your toddler may refuse naps, fight bedtime with elaborate stalling, or wake at night scared. This is also the age when some parents face the crib-to-bed transition, which can add another layer of disruption.
Protect the nap at all costs. Many parents drop the nap around age 2 because their toddler resists it, but most children need that nap until 3-3.5. A toddler who skips the nap often becomes overtired, leading to worse night sleep and earlier morning wake-ups. If the nap is truly being refused, offer at least 45-60 minutes of quiet time in the crib.
Track Your Baby's Sleep
NapNap Baby helps you log sleep, predict nap times, and build healthy routines — all in one app.
Get the app free →Free to try · No account needed · Works offline