What are the sleeping patterns for a 2 year old baby?

2 Years

Your 2-year-old is still trying to bend the rules to be sure they're real, and struggles over getting to sleep are common. Your toddler doesn't want to leave you or her exciting day. What to do? Establish rituals and routines for bedtime. It's the best way to encourage good sleeping habits and still make her feel secure.

Different toddlers need different amounts of sleep. But in general, 2-year-olds need 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours. Typically, they'll sleep 11 to 12 hours at night, with maybe one nap each afternoon of one to two hours.

Toddlers are big on refusing to go to bed. Being consistent every day about bedtime rules and routines is the best way to teach your child good sleeping habits and make things easier on you. Here are a few tips:

• Start winding down after dinner. Slowing the pace for yourself and your child will help make the transition to bedtime easier. Reading, singing, and quiet play are better than running around.

• Keep the before-bed routine short and sweet. Bathing, brushing teeth, and going to the bathroom shouldn't take more than a half hour or so. Any longer and your child will start getting wound up and you'll start getting frustrated.

• Your toddler will probably refuse to go to bed at least some of the time. Be firm and consistent about bedtime rules.

• Toddlers don't need their own rooms. In fact, many children this age sleep more soundly with someone else in the room. Another child between the ages of 3 and 5 would make a good roommate. Older children can usually sleep very well through almost any kind of ruckus.

Give your toddler a 10 minute warning, "Bedtime in 10 minutes", do it again in 5 minutes and 1 minute - so they know to expect when bedtime is coming and to begin separating from their activity.

Turn off the TV in the hour before bedtime - the excitement of TV can actually wind her up, rather than calming her down. Books and soft music are a better choice of quiet time before bedtime.

Tip: Leave a book or one other quiet toy in your child's bed so she can amuse herself for a little while after awakening. She can't understand the concept of "too early," but you can tell her to stay in her room until the light comes in the window or she hears you say good morning (or some other specific signal).