Toddlers and naps – Lauren from Little Sleep Stars tells us about developing sleep patterns

To nap or not to nap? That is the question. Your toddler might just have dropped their nap, or you might be noticing changes in their sleep patterns. We asked Lauren from Little Sleep Stars to tell us more about how sleep changes during the toddler years, and this is what she shared: 

As babies move towards toddlerhood, it is likely that their daytime sleep will decrease in frequency and duration^[1], while the overall amount of sleep taken at night increases.^[2]  

Children commonly nap until the age of around four^[3], but some will genuinely be ready to drop their daytime sleep well before then.  

As many as 82% of toddlers and pre-schoolers aged above 18 months do not take a nap every day.^[4] By five, almost all children have ceased napping.^[5]  

There is a steady decrease in overall sleep as children move through toddlerhood and beyond,^[6] which comes from reduction or elimination of daytime sleep and a gradually later sleep onset (bedtime), as wake-up time tends to remain fairly stable.^[7]  

Across the early years, a child’s sleep cycle lengthens, from a starting point as short as 40 minutes, to eventually being comparable to an adult sleep pattern, with each cycle lasting around 90 minutes.^[8] 

So, your toddler’s sleep almost certainly is changing – but the pace of change will be unique to your toddler. Remember you know them best and the answer to the question ‘to nap or not to nap’ might vary from day to day. It will certainly be different for every toddler!  

References: 

[1] MacLean, J. E, Fitzgerald, D.A, Waters K. A, (2015) Developmental changes in sleep and breathing across infancy and childhood. Paediatric Respiratory Review, 16(4) p. 276-284.  

[2] Tham, E, Schneider, N & Broekman, B (2017) Infant sleep and its relation with cognition and growth: a narrative review, Nature and Science of Sleep, 9 p. 135-149. 

[3] Galland, B. C, Taylor, B. J, Elder, D. E & Herbison, P (2012) Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies, Sleep Medicine Review, 16(3) p. 213-222. 

[4] MacLean, J. E, Fitzgerald, D.A, Waters K. A, (2015) Developmental changes in sleep and breathing across infancy and childhood. Paediatric Respiratory Review, 16(4) p. 276-284.  

[5] Galland, B. C, Taylor, B. J, Elder, D. E & Herbison, P (2012) Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies, Sleep Medicine Review, 16(3) p. 213-222. 

[6] Sadeh, A, Mindell, J. A, Luedtke, K & Wiegand, B (2009) Sleep and sleep ecology in the first 3 years: a web-based study, Journal of Sleep Research, 18(1) p. 60-73. 

[7] Galland, B. C, Taylor, B. J, Elder, D. E & Herbison, P (2012) Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies, Sleep Medicine Review, 16(3) p. 213-222. 

[8]MacLean, J. E, Fitzgerald, D.A, Waters K. A, (2015) Developmental changes in sleep and breathing across infancy and childhood. Paediatric Respiratory Review, 16(4) p. 276-284.