A 1-year-old needs 11 to 14 hours of total sleep per 24-hour period, including naps. That recommendation comes from both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Sleep Foundation, and it covers the full range from 12 months through 24 months. Most of that sleep happens at night, with the rest split across one or two daytime naps.
Nighttime vs. Daytime Sleep
At 12 months, most children sleep 10 to 12 hours overnight. The remaining 2 to 3 hours come from naps during the day. That means a child who sleeps 11 hours at night and takes a 2-hour nap is landing right in the middle of the recommended range.
The simplest way to figure out bedtime is to work backward from when your child needs to wake up. If your 1-year-old needs to be up by 7 a.m. and typically sleeps 11 hours at night, an 8 p.m. bedtime makes sense. If they tend to sleep closer to 10 hours overnight, you’d aim for 9 p.m. or supplement with slightly longer naps.
Nap Schedules at 12 Months
Most 12-month-olds still take two naps a day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each nap typically lasts 60 to 120 minutes, with the total daytime sleep adding up to 2 to 3 hours. Some children in daycare settings shift to a single nap earlier, but at home, two naps remain the norm at this age.
The transition from two naps to one usually happens sometime between 12 and 18 months. You’ll know your child is ready when they consistently resist one of their naps, or when the morning nap pushes so late that it interferes with the afternoon one. Until that happens, keeping two naps on the schedule helps ensure they hit the 11 to 14 hour target without relying on an unrealistically long stretch of nighttime sleep.
The 12-Month Sleep Regression
If your 1-year-old was sleeping well and suddenly isn’t, you’re likely dealing with the 12-month sleep regression. This is one of the most common disruptions parents notice, and it typically lasts only a few weeks.
Several things collide around this age to make sleep harder. Children are learning to walk, pull up, and cruise along furniture, and that physical excitement can make it tough to settle down. Separation anxiety also peaks, which means bedtime (a separation by definition) gets more emotional. Teething pain from molars adds another layer. Some children also begin having occasional nightmares, though that’s less common at 12 months.
The signs are hard to miss:
- Waking up more often during the night
- Crying or resisting sleep at bedtime
- Difficulty calming down after nighttime wake-ups
- Taking unusually long naps during the day
The most reassuring thing about a sleep regression is that it’s temporary. Sticking to your child’s usual routine, even when they fight it, helps them return to normal patterns faster once the developmental surge passes.
Signs Your Child Isn’t Getting Enough Sleep
Children who consistently fall below 11 hours of total sleep often show it during the day. They may be unusually fussy, have difficulty with transitions (like leaving a toy or getting into the car seat), or seem clumsy and uncoordinated. At 12 months, overtired children also tend to fight sleep harder, which creates a frustrating cycle: the less they sleep, the harder it becomes for them to fall asleep.
On the other end, a child who sleeps well over 14 hours consistently may simply be a heavy sleeper, or they may be fighting off an illness. Occasional long-sleep days are normal, especially during growth spurts. A pattern that persists for more than a week or two is worth mentioning to your pediatrician.
What a Typical Day Looks Like
Putting the numbers together, here’s a realistic 24-hour picture for a 12-month-old getting about 13 hours of total sleep:
- Wake up: 6:30 to 7:00 a.m.
- Morning nap: around 9:30 a.m., lasting 60 to 90 minutes
- Afternoon nap: around 2:00 p.m., lasting 60 to 90 minutes
- Bedtime: 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Overnight sleep: 10 to 12 hours
Your child’s version of this will vary. Some 1-year-olds are natural early risers who compensate with a longer morning nap. Others stay up a bit later and sleep in. The total across 24 hours matters more than when exactly each block of sleep falls. As long as your child is landing somewhere in the 11 to 14 hour range and seems well-rested during the day, their schedule is working.