How much sleep should toddlers be getting during the day?

My son is 18 months old now, and if he sleeps for 12 or more hours at night, there is no way that I can get him back down for a nap during the day, even though he really needs one. He usually starts getting really tired and cranky after he's been up for about 5-6 hours. I've let him sleep for 11 or 12 hours a few times, and regretted it the next day when he wouldn't nap and just fussed all afternoon and evening. What works for us, is about 10-11 hours of sleep at night, and then a 2-3 hour nap during the day. Sometimes I do have to wake him up in the morning, or he would sleep for 12 hours, but I think it's worth it, he's only crabby for a few minutes then, instead of all evening like he is if he doesn't have a nap.

I think toddlers should also have at least 8 hours of sleep a day.Most of us think of sleep as a time of rest, a time when the brain settles down, relaxes, and becomes quiet. After a busy day of attending classes, talking with friends, studying, and stressing out, the brain finally gets to shut down and take a break from it all. Basically, your brain goes on automatic pilot. Without your being aware of it, something inside your head comes alive and starts mulling over all the things you learned that day. It sorts through them, organizes them, considers them, calculates them, decides what’s important and what’s not.

lucky you I would kill for my child to sleep 12 hours at night lol. When my children get grumpy and they do not want to take a nap. I will some times pop a movie in and just let the have some relaze time. Just to unwine and recharge, I will even sit with them and cuddle this gives me some nice time with them when I am not running after them. I get to get my breath too.

Yes, it all depends on the individual child...maybe if you can just get him to sleep once during the day to recharge his batteries, but he not need this, just a change of routine when he get grumpy....

i think you are right, every child is different. my son, who is now 20 months old, has always (and still does) hated, and i mean HATED, to go to sleep. he is never willing to take nap even though he cant stop yawning, and his eyelids are bright red from all of the rubbing. it doesnt matter, i make him take a nap. my mom gets so mad at me for forcing him to take a nap, but if it were up to him, he would never go to sleep. once i let him go the entire day with no nap, that wasnt smart. he was so crabby and sensitive for the entire day. i dont have a set schedule for my sons naptime. i just go with the flow. if i see yawns and eye rubbing, i know he is getting tired, once he starts to over-react to small things, i know its nap time. it isnt easy. there are days that he will scream his head off for about half an hour. i dont come in to comfort him (i swear i am not trying to be mean to him) only because this is like teasing him and it will make him cry even longer and harder once i walk back out. i just let him cry and wear himself out. i hope that there will be a day that he will go to bed with no problems because we have been going through this crying thing since he was a baby.

I'm wondering about his mood what kind of mood does he have what happens before & how does he act and how do you act afterwards ? How do you do the naptime ? What makes him unbearable ? If he's too unbearable I think you should put him in his room or somewhere safe with his toys while you go get a break or time to cool off . My son used to be so awful before naptime that he would kick, hit , scream, not wanting to be buckled up when it's time to go, and quite a fighter including getting to worm out of your arms. So if he needed a naptime in this moody zone I would give him a 'bath and he would be fighting in the water then I would get a book lay next to him & read to him then he would fall asleep or we would take a drive & he would soon suddenly fall asleep in the car.

I have heard that kids aged 16 months to 20 months need about 15 hours of sleep including naps. So if he sleeps 12 hours at night, he should probably have at least a 1 hour nap during the day. Have you tried tiring him out before his nap? My daughter (age 19 months) was getting incredibly grumpy for awhile, but still wouldn't nap. I started taking her out to the park and for walks, and her nap schedule went back to normal.

I don't think you can use the word "should" in that sentence, LOL :D My daughter is 4 and a half and since the age of 1 she has slept during the day probably 20 times! But it's good because she goes to bed early. All kids are different, if they don't want to sleep then they won't. But if you think that they need a sleep then you have to create a quiet environment so that they rest and then fall asleep.

A toddlers body knows how much sleep it needs. They may have difficulty settling down to get to sleep but they will not be sleep deprived.

Yep it all depends on the bubs..Instead of a day time nap try quiet time on the couch..Snuggle up for an hour watch a movie read a book etc.. This little break is often enough to recharge little batteries..some times they dont need naps just a little break with mum or dad,,,good luck..

my 6 month old son sleeps for average of 9 hours a night and then sleeps twice during the day for 1/2 -1 hour,we too can not find help,doc says this is sufficiant? He fights to stay awake every time and cry until he in deep sleep,Yes he continues crying once asleep it gets quiter and quiter until its a faint grrhal.