A 13-month-old needs about 13 to 13.5 hours of total sleep per day, split between nighttime sleep and daytime naps. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 11 to 14 hours of total sleep (including naps) for children ages 1 to 2, so most 13-month-olds fall right in the middle of that range.
Nighttime and Daytime Breakdown
Most 13-month-olds sleep 11 to 12 hours at night and get another 2 to 3 hours of sleep during the day, typically split across two naps. A morning nap and an afternoon nap are still the norm at this age, though some toddlers are beginning to show the earliest signs of being ready for one nap.
The nighttime stretch doesn’t always mean 11 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Brief night wakings are still common at this age, especially during periods of developmental change. Many 13-month-olds can resettle on their own after waking, but some still need a few minutes of comfort before falling back asleep.
Wake Windows Between Naps
At 13 months, your child can typically handle 3 to 4 hours of awake time between sleep periods. A common daily rhythm looks like this:
- First wake window: About 3 hours from morning wake-up to the first nap
- Second wake window: About 3 to 3.5 hours after the first nap ends to the second nap
- Third wake window: About 3.5 to 4 hours after the second nap ends to bedtime
Wake windows tend to get slightly longer as the day goes on. The shortest one is usually in the morning, and the longest one falls between the last nap and bedtime. If your child seems wired and resistant to sleep, the wake window before that nap or bedtime may be too short. If they’re melting down well before the next sleep period, it’s likely too long.
When Two Naps Become One
Most toddlers transition from two naps to one somewhere between 13 and 18 months, so your 13-month-old may still need both naps for a while. Dropping a nap too early often backfires, leading to overtiredness and worse nighttime sleep. Look for these signs over at least one to two consistent weeks before making the switch:
- Regularly refusing the second nap
- Taking much longer to fall asleep at nap time or bedtime
- One or both naps shrinking 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
A key distinction: one or two off days doesn’t mean your toddler is ready for one nap. The pattern needs to hold for at least a week or two, and your child should seem well-rested and content on days when they happen to take only one nap. If they’re irritable and clingy by late afternoon on single-nap days, they’re not ready yet.
When you do make the switch, that single nap moves to midday, and wake windows stretch significantly. Instead of 3 to 4 hours, your toddler will need to handle 5 to 6 hours of awake time before the nap and 4 to 5 hours after it. That’s a big jump, which is why most sleep consultants recommend waiting until the signs are unmistakable.
The 12-Month Sleep Regression
If your 13-month-old’s sleep has recently gone off the rails, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with the 12-month sleep regression, which often spills into month 13. Around this age, toddlers are standing, cruising, or starting to walk. They’re also building new language skills and developing stronger emotional attachments. All of that brain and body growth can make sleep temporarily harder.
Separation anxiety plays a big role at this stage. Your toddler now understands that you exist even when you leave the room, and that awareness can make bedtime feel more stressful for them. Increased physical activity during the day also leads to restlessness and overstimulation at night. Sleep regressions are temporary, usually lasting a few weeks, and they resolve on their own as your child adjusts to their new abilities.
Signs Your Toddler Isn’t Getting Enough Sleep
Undertired and overtired toddlers can look surprisingly similar, so it helps to know the specific signs of not enough sleep. Early tiredness cues include yawning, eye rubbing, staring blankly, and losing interest in toys or activities. You might also notice fussy eating or your child becoming unusually clingy.
Overtiredness looks different and can be counterintuitive. Instead of seeming sleepy, an overtired 13-month-old often gets a sudden burst of energy or becomes hyperactive. Tantrums, aggression over small changes, and actively resisting sleep despite being exhausted are all hallmarks. If your toddler regularly fights bedtime with what seems like a second wind, they may actually need an earlier bedtime rather than a later one. Pushing through that tired window often makes it harder, not easier, for them to fall asleep.