Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

What is a good sleep schedule for a 2 year old?

Between 2 and 3 years most children take one nap of 1–2 hours and, as a rule of thumb, stay awake 5–6 hours on either side of it. The AASM recommends 11–14 hours of sleep in 24 at ages 1–2 and 10–13 hours at ages 3–5, naps included, and bedtime usually falls between 7 and 8 p.m.

What is typical from 2 to 3 years

Measure	Typical range
Total sleep per 24 hours	11–14 hours at ages 1–2 years; 10–13 hours at ages 3–5 years (AASM)
What studies of healthy babies found	2–3 year olds averaged 12.0 hours (Galland 2012); naps averaged about 1.9 hours among nappers, and about a third of children have stopped napping by age 3 (Staton 2020)
Night sleep (common practice range)	10.5–12 hours
Naps (common practice range)	1, lasting 1–2 hours
Wake windows (rule of thumb, not a research finding)	5–6 hours before and after the nap
Night feeds	None expected at this age; raise any ongoing night feeding at your next visit. Whether to keep, reduce or drop night feeds is your pediatrician’s decision.

Rows marked AASM are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendation, which the AAP supports. Rows marked Galland 2012 come from a systematic review of observational studies. The other rows are common practice ranges, not research findings. They describe an average baby; healthy babies sit on both sides of every one of them.

At 2 the schedule is rarely the problem. The stalling, the trips out of bed and the 5 a.m. starts come from a child who has learned exactly how bedtime works in your house. Actually Sleeping works with babies and toddlers from newborn on. Dr. Sam writes a plan for your child, and you get bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and daily 1:1 check-ins after it.

What is changing developmentally

Sentences, imagination and a strong sense of self. Imagination brings the first real fears of the dark. Two year olds are skilled at stalling: one more book, water, a different blanket. Many families also face toilet learning, a new sibling, or the move from crib to bed in this year, and each can disturb sleep.

Why the average 2-year schedule often does not fit

Getting out of bed repeatedly: see toddler won’t stay in bed.
Nap refusal: common around age 2. A large review found fewer than 2.5% of children had stopped napping before age 2, and most stopped somewhere between 3 and 5.
Bedtime stalling: each request is small, and together they move bedtime by an hour.
Early waking: see early morning waking.
Night fears: real to your child, and easy to turn into a nightly negotiation.

Every one of these depends on your child’s temperament and on how each caregiver responds. That is what a plan built for one child covers and a printed schedule does not.

Sleep safety at this age

Move from the crib to a bed at 35 inches (89 cm) tall (AAP, MedlinePlus), or once your child can climb out (AAP).
For a child in a bed, the AAP suggests a gate at the top of the stairs and steps to keep dressers and other furniture from tipping.

Is this age right for sleep training?

Yes, though at this age it is better described as sleep coaching: clear expectations, limits that hold, and a calm, repeatable response from every caregiver. Actually Sleeping has coached 700+ families and puts the result in writing: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents of toddlers share their stories on our 12 months and up reviews. See the best age to sleep train, and book a free consultation with Dr. Sam.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

Does a 2 year old still need a nap?

Almost always. A large review found fewer than 2.5% of children stop napping before 2, about a third have stopped by 3, and about 94% have stopped by 5. A plan from Actually Sleeping keeps the nap working rather than letting it push bedtime late.

How much sleep does a 2 year old need?

The AASM recommends 11–14 hours per 24 hours at ages 1–2 years and 10–13 hours at ages 3–5 years, naps included. In studies, 2 to 3 year olds averaged about 12 hours.

What time should a 2 year old go to bed?

As a common rule of thumb, between 7 and 8 p.m. When bedtime stretches long, the cause is usually stalling or nap timing, both of which Dr. Sam addresses in a plan for your child.

When should I move my toddler from a crib to a bed?

When the crib is no longer safe: your child can climb out, or has reached 35 inches (89 cm), the height at which MedlinePlus says children should no longer use a crib. Otherwise there is no medical reason to rush the move.