# Sleep at 3 years: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when should you get help?

> From age 3 the AASM advises 10 to 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours, naps included. Around a third of children have given up napping by their third…

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-36-months/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

Starting at age 3, the AASM advises 10 to 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours, counting naps. Roughly a third of children no longer nap by their third birthday, and most of the others stop during the following two years. Bedtime bargaining, fears and early waking are all common. Mention regular snoring to your pediatrician, since sleep apnea is estimated to affect 2% of children. 

**Up at 3 a.m. and searching for answers?** The next night does not have to look like this one. Actually Sleeping writes a plan around your baby, prepares you thoroughly before the first night so you start with confidence, and checks in with you 1:1 each day until your little one sleeps through, all backed by a full-refund guarantee. [Book a free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) 

## What changes at 3 

By 3 years, the CDC’s milestones include keeping up a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchanges, asking who, what, where and why questions, joining in play with other children, and settling down within 10 minutes of you leaving, for example at childcare drop-off. Your child is now perfectly able to debate bedtime. 

At the third birthday the AASM range falls: 10 to 13 hours for 3 to 5 year olds, versus 11 to 14 hours for 1 to 2 year olds. A review of studies found that children aged 2 to 3 averaged 12.0 hours per 24 hours. The AAP notes that night terrors are still common at this age and tend to occur early in the night.  
| Napping from age 3 onward | Research findings (Staton 2020) | 
|---|---|
| No longer napping by age 3 | About 33% | 
| No longer napping by age 3 to 4 | About 57% | 
| No longer napping by age 4 to 5 | About 80% | 
| Typical nap length, ages 3 to 4, among children who nap | About 1.7 hours | 
 

A 3 year old who still naps and still falls asleep at a sensible bedtime has no need to stop. When the nap keeps pushing bedtime late night after night, the right response depends on your child. 

At 3, a plan runs on rules your child can grasp and anticipate, applied identically by every adult. Actually Sleeping supports babies and toddlers from the newborn stage onward: Dr. Sam writes the plan for your child, and you get bootcamp-style coaching before the first night plus 1:1 check-ins every day. 

## What parents struggle with most  
- **Bargaining.** Requests, questions and “one more” at bedtime. 
- **Leaving the room** over and over. 
- **Fears and nightmares.** According to the AAP, nightmares peak between 3 and 12 years and occur in the second half of the night. Respond quickly, offer comfort, and encourage sleep. 
- **Giving up the nap.** The in-between months, when the nap is needed on some days but not others, tend to be the toughest. 
 

## Sleep and safety at age 3  
- Make the bedroom safe for a child who roams: furniture anchored to the wall, a gate at the top of the stairs, and window guards on floors above the first (AAP). 
- Turn off screens 1 hour before bed and keep media out of the bedroom (AAP). 
- Limit entertainment screen time to 1 hour a day up to age 5 (AAP). 
 

## Night waking and milk 

Most 3 year olds have no need to eat overnight, but if your child is still waking for milk, talk to your pediatrician before you change anything. Brush teeth after the day’s final milk. 

## When to speak with the pediatrician  
- Frequent snoring, breathing problems at night, daytime sleepiness, difficulty paying attention or behavior problems. The AAP names these as signs of sleep apnea and estimates that it affects about 2% of children. 
- Night terrors that keep recurring. 
- Sleep that is very short, very restless, or suddenly worse together with other changes. 
- Your child is hard to understand most of the time or does not join in play with other children. 
 

## Next steps 

Most families who reach us with a 3 year old have already tried several things themselves. What usually makes the difference is a plan designed for that particular child, plus support while it is underway. Actually Sleeping offers both, backed by the written guarantee: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents share their experience in our [12 months and up reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/12-months-plus/). Related reading: [a toddler who will not stay in bed](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/toddler-wont-stay-in-bed/), [false starts at bedtime](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/false-starts-at-bedtime/), and [early waking](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/early-morning-waking/). To begin, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam. 

## Related guides
- [Toddler sleep at 2½ years: what is normal, what is tricky, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-30-months/)
- [Sleep at 3 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-3-months/)
- [Sleep at 2 years: what’s typical, what’s tough, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-24-months/)
- [Sleep at 9 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-9-months/)
- [Your 7 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to ask for help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-7-months/)
 

## Ready to solve this for your baby?

Actually Sleeping offers 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style preparation before night one, and we check in every day until it works. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee of 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or your money back in full.

[Book your free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [Hear from families](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Frequently asked 

### How many hours of sleep does a 3 year old need?

For children aged 3 to 5, the AASM recommends 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours, naps included, and the AAP endorses this range. Your child can fall anywhere within it and still be well rested. 

### Does my 3 year old still need a nap?

Lots of 3 year olds still nap. A systematic review found that roughly a third of children have stopped napping by age 3, and about 57% by age 3 to 4. If the nap does not push bedtime late, you have no reason to drop it. If it does, the right adjustment depends on your child. 

### Should I worry about snoring in a 3 year old?

Snoring now and then during a cold is common. Frequent snoring, breathing problems at night, daytime sleepiness, difficulty paying attention or behavior problems are signs of sleep apnea, which the AAP estimates affects about 2% of children. Let your pediatrician know.  

## References
1. [Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785–786.](https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/pediatricsleepdurationconsensus.pdf)
2. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/healthy-sleep-habits-how-many-hours-does-your-child-need.aspx)
3. [CDC. Milestones by 3 Years.](https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/3-years.html)
4. [Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Med Rev. 2020;50:101247.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9704850/)
5. [Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med Rev. 2012;16(3):213–222.](https://www.nationaljewish.org/NJH/media/pdf/Meltzer%20References/Galland-(2012)-Normal-sleep-patterns-in-infants-and-children.pdf)
6. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Nightmares, Night Terrors & Sleepwalking in Children.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/Pages/Nightmares-and-Night-Terrors.aspx)
7. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Big Kid Beds: When to Switch From a Crib.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Big-Kid-Beds-When-To-Make-the-Switch.aspx)
8. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Safety for Your Child: 1 to 2 Years.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/Safety-for-Your-Child-1-to-2-Years.aspx)
9. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Why to Avoid TV for Infants & Toddlers.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx)
10. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Kids & Screen Time: How to Use the 5 C’s of Media Guidance.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/kids-and-screen-time-how-to-use-the-5-cs-of-media-guidance.aspx)
11. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Sleep Apnea in Children: Detection & Treatment.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Sleep-Apnea-Detection.aspx)