Is Nine to Ten Hours Enough Sleep for a 2 1/2 Year Old?

I went through the same thing not to long ago with my 3 year old. I stopped giving him naps. It took about a week/ week and a half for him to get used to it. It has worked well for us! Hope I helped a little!!

Hello N.-

I have a son who is 2 yrs old and he use to do the same thing. His bedtime was 8pm every night and he would wake up around 7-7:30am. But even now, he stays up until 9pm. There would be NO way I could get him to bed at 8pm, he's still too awake. So every night at 9pm is bedtime, he's goes in his room and falls asleep within 10 minutes. Then he still wakes up around 7-7:30am. Sometimes he'll sleep in later, but rarely. And he has enough energy throughout the day, so I know he getting enough sleep. I would suggest putting him down at 9pm. Even if he is still wide awake, he has to know that there is a certain time every night where he has to go to bed. If it takes him 20minutes to fall asleep, then that's okay. I wish you luck. But nine to ten hours is plenty!

Kids need less sleep as they get older. Don't fight it. My 18 month old used to go to bed every night faithfully at 8:00-8:30pm. Two weeks ago she started staying up until 9:00-9:30pm. I just accepted it. She still sleeps all night and wakes around 7:00-7:30am and takes her normal nap during the day.

My son, now 4 1/2, went through phases like that on and off. The best way to judge is his behavior. I would continue your routine, and continue to put him to bed at your usual time, maybe to the later end of the time range. For awhile, especially during the summer months when it's light outside, we would let him look at books or his Little Touch Leap Pad for a half hour after putting him to bed. (Make sure to set a timer). I think in total though, that is enough sleep if he's getting a nap during the day. When does he take his nap? If it's late in the afternoon or has recently shifted toward the end of the day move closer to the middle, 12:30-1:00 start time. "They" say that they should be up from a nap at least 4 hours before you want them to go to bed, so if he isn't nappin until 2:30 and is getting up at 4:30, that might be part of the problem. I'd say, be a little flexible but try to stick to the norm, he'll probably bounce back soon. I wouldn't stress about it either, sounds like he's got a good routine.

N.,
I would suggest taking the cues from your two year old. If you are going to have to fight him every night to go to bed at 8, move it to nine pm. My two year old daughter goes to bed between 9-9:30pm every night. She wakes between 7-7:30 am and takes a 11/2 hour nap every day.

Best Wishes!
J. F.

My 2 1/2 year old takes a nap some days and other days does not. If she doesn't take a nap I put her down at 8pm and she goes right to sleep. If she does nap I let her stay up until 9 or 9:30 and she goes right to sleep. If I put her down at 8 when she has taken a nap that day she will not fall asleep and I usually end up letting her stay up until 9 or 9:30. She wakes up between 7:30 and 8am most days. If your son is napping during the day I think 9pm - 7am is plenty of sleep.

my now 3 yr old STOPPED TAKING NAPS at 18 months old - UGH! so we had him go to bed earlier...he gets about 12 hrs sleep which is recommended at your and mines age (I think its 10-12 hrs) yours still naps so that is good. If you want try to have him NOT nap and see if he'll switch to 12 hrs of sleep total....it does take a while for the body to adjust..I think it took mine about 2 weeks before he realy was i the new routein.....good luck.

I think 10 hours and a 2 hour nap for a 2 1/2 year old sounds healthy enough. As long as your child is not acting like as if he's not getting enough rest. I think we have to remember that were doing the best we can, and our child does not have to fit into a text book time.