What 11–14 hours means for a 1-year-old
At 1, a child moves into the National Sleep Foundation’s toddler group (1–2 years), which recommends 11 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including naps. Most of this comes at night, usually around 11 to 12 hours, with naps making up the rest.
The NSF lists 9–10 or 15–16 hours as “may be appropriate” for some toddlers. The highlighted row below applies to a 1-year-old.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine gives the same 11–14 hours, including naps, for children aged 1 to 2. Every child is different, so treat the range as a guide and watch how your child seems during the day: a well-rested child usually wakes more easily, is in a better mood and settles more readily at bedtime.
| Age group | Ages | Recommended | May be appropriate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 0–3 months | 14–17 h | 11–13 or 18–19 h |
| Infant | 4–11 months | 12–15 h | 10–11 or 16–18 h |
| Toddler | 1–2 years | 11–14 h | 9–10 or 15–16 h |
| Preschooler | 3–5 years | 10–13 h | 8–9 or 14 h |
| School-age child | 6–13 years | 9–11 h | 7–8 or 12 h |
| Teenager | 14–17 years | 8–10 h | 7 or 11 h |
| Young adult | 18–25 years | 7–9 h | 6 or 10–11 h |
| Adult | 26–64 years | 7–9 h | 6 or 10 h |
| Older adult | 65+ years | 7–8 h | 5–6 or 9 h |
Asleep-by times for common wake-up times
The table counts back from your child’s wake-up time for 12, 11 or 10 hours of night-time sleep. Naps are extra, so a toddler who naps for 1 to 2 hours can reach the recommended total with 10 to 12 hours overnight.
| Wake up | 12 h sleep | 11 h sleep | 10 h sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:30 AM06:30 | 6:30 PM18:30 | 7:30 PM19:30 | 8:30 PM20:30 |
| 7:00 AM07:00 | 7:00 PM19:00 | 8:00 PM20:00 | 9:00 PM21:00 |
| 7:30 AM07:30 | 7:30 PM19:30 | 8:30 PM20:30 | 9:30 PM21:30 |
For a 7:00 AM wake-up, being asleep by 8:00 PM (20:00) gives 11 hours overnight.
From two naps to one
Many 1-year-olds still take 2 naps a day, and most move to a single afternoon nap at some point between about 12 and 18 months. Signs your child may be ready include fighting the morning nap, taking a long time to fall asleep for the second nap, or the afternoon nap pushing bedtime much later.
During the switch, an earlier bedtime for a few weeks can stop your toddler becoming overtired.
Settling a 1-year-old
- Keep the bedtime routine short, calm and in the same order every night.
- Offer a favourite comfort item if your child’s doctor says it is safe.
- Keep the room dark and quiet, and avoid screens before bed.
- Respond to night waking briefly and calmly, then leave the room again.
Night waking and early rising
Some 1-year-olds still wake at night, and many go through phases of very early waking. A few things to check:
- Is the room dark enough in the early morning? Blackout blinds help, especially in summer.
- Is the last nap too late or too long, so your child isn’t tired enough at bedtime?
- Is bedtime too late, leaving your child overtired? Overtired toddlers often wake more, not less.
Respond calmly and briefly at night, and treat any wake-up before about 6:00 AM as night-time: keep the lights low and voices quiet.
More answers
- How much sleep a 9-month-old needsNearby answer
- How much sleep a 2-year-old needsNearby answer
- How much sleep a 6-month-old needsNearby answer
- How much sleep a 3-year-old needsNearby answer
- Bedtime for a 4 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:15 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:30 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:45 AM wake-upRelated answer
Frequently asked questions
What time should a 1-year-old go to bed?
It depends on wake-up time. For a 7:00 AM (07:00) wake-up, being asleep between 7:00 PM (19:00) and 9:00 PM (21:00) gives 10–12 hours overnight. Many families choose around 7:00–7:30 PM.
How many naps does a 1-year-old need?
Many still take 2 naps, and most move to 1 nap between about 12 and 18 months. Look at the total sleep in 24 hours rather than the number of naps.
Is 10 hours of night sleep enough for a 1-year-old?
It can be, if naps add another 1 to 3 hours so the 24-hour total reaches 11–14 hours. If your child is often grumpy or overtired, try an earlier bedtime.
Related calculators
Sleep needs by age
See the recommended hours of sleep for any age, from newborns to older adults.
Bedtime calculator
Enter any wake-up time to see bedtimes that let you wake between sleep cycles.
Nap calculator
Plan a 10-, 20- or 90-minute nap and see when to set your alarm.
Sleep debt calculator
Add up the last seven nights and see how far you are from your sleep target.
Sources
- Hirshkowitz M, et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 2015;1(1):40–43. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010.
- Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016;12(6):785–786. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5866.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Sleep.
When to seek help
Talk to your child’s doctor if they:
- snore loudly most nights, or pause, gasp or snort while asleep;
- are very hard to wake, or are often sleepy, irritable or struggling to focus during the day;
- regularly take a long time to fall asleep or wake often in the night;
- have sleep problems that are affecting school, mood or family life.