One-year-olds need 11 to 14 hours of total sleep per day, including naps. That’s the range recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children aged 1 to 2. Most of that sleep happens at night, with one or two daytime naps making up the rest.
Nighttime Sleep at 12 Months
Most 12-month-olds sleep 11 to 12 hours overnight. That means if your child wakes at 6:30 AM, a bedtime between 7:00 and 7:45 PM typically works well. The general rule is to aim for bedtime about 12 to 13 hours after your child wakes in the morning, which accounts for the time it takes to actually fall asleep after you put them down.
Consistency matters more than hitting an exact clock time. A predictable bedtime routine, even a short one, helps signal to your child that sleep is coming. Bath, pajamas, a book, and lights out in roughly the same order each night builds that association over time. Making sure your child gets enough physical activity and calories during the day also plays a role in how well they sleep overnight.
Naps: Two, Then One
At 12 months, most children still take two naps a day. By 18 months, the majority have dropped down to one. That transition typically happens somewhere between 13 and 18 months, though most toddlers aren’t truly ready before 12 months, and nearly all have made the switch by 20 months.
Signs your child may be ready to drop to one nap include:
- Consistently refusing the second nap for one to two weeks straight
- Taking longer to fall asleep at nap time or bedtime
- One or both naps regularly shortening to less than 45 minutes
- Waking earlier than usual in the morning
- Comfortably staying awake for 4 to 5 hours or more without getting fussy
The key word is “consistently.” A few days of nap refusal can happen for any number of reasons. If your child skips a nap for a day or two but seems overtired and cranky, they probably still need two naps. You’re looking for a pattern that holds for at least one to two weeks where your child seems content and well-rested on a single midday nap.
The 12-Month Sleep Regression
Right around a child’s first birthday, many parents notice sleep suddenly falls apart. A baby who was sleeping through the night starts waking again, fighting naps, or taking forever to settle down. This is commonly called the 12-month sleep regression, and it’s driven by several things happening at once: a burst of physical development (many children are learning to walk around this age), growing separation anxiety, teething pain, and the general overstimulation that comes with being able to do so much more during the day. Nightmares are possible but less common at this age.
The good news is that sleep regressions at this age typically resolve within a few weeks. They’re disruptive but temporary. Sticking to your existing routines as much as possible helps your child move through the phase faster than introducing a lot of new sleep habits in response to it.
Common Reasons for Night Waking
Even outside of a formal sleep regression, night waking is normal at this age. Separation anxiety peaks in the second half of the first year and can linger well past 12 months. Your child may wake, realize you’re not there, and cry out. Teething is another frequent culprit, especially as molars start coming in. And some children simply wake between sleep cycles and haven’t yet learned to fall back asleep independently.
One practical strategy is placing a couple of pacifiers in the crib so your child can find and replace one on their own during the night, rather than needing you to come in. You can also talk to your pediatrician about whether your child is ready for a small lovey or comfort object after their first birthday, which can help with self-soothing. Making sure dinner isn’t too early in the evening so your child isn’t waking from hunger is another simple adjustment worth trying.
Keeping the Sleep Space Safe
At 12 months, safe sleep guidelines still apply. The AAP recommends keeping loose blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumpers, and other soft items out of the crib. This can feel frustrating when your child seems old enough for a cozy setup, but the safest sleep environment remains a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else. A wearable blanket or sleep sack is a good alternative for warmth. If you’re considering introducing a lovey or small comfort object, check with your pediatrician first about whether it’s appropriate for your child’s age and development.