What is the recommended amount of sleep for a three year old?

Recommended Sleep Duration for Three-Year-Old Children

Children who are three years old should get 10-13 hours of quality sleep per 24 hours (including naps) with regular sleep onset and wake-up times to promote optimal health and development. 1, 2

Sleep Duration Guidelines for Preschoolers

• Both Canadian and World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines specifically recommend that children aged 3-4 years should have 10-13 hours of quality sleep in a 24-hour period, which includes both nighttime sleep and daytime naps 1
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine similarly recommends that children 3-5 years of age should sleep 10-13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis 2
• Regular sleep patterns with consistent bedtime and wake-up times are essential components of healthy sleep habits for three-year-olds 1

Benefits of Adequate Sleep for Three-Year-Olds

• Sufficient sleep duration in early childhood is associated with improved health outcomes, including:

  • Lower energy intake and reduced risk of obesity 1
  • Better emotional regulation and cognitive development 2
  • Improved attention, behavior, learning, and memory 2
  • Enhanced quality of life and overall physical health 2

• Research shows that children who meet sleep recommendations have fewer behavioral and emotional problems 3

Consequences of Insufficient Sleep

• Sleeping less than the recommended amount has been linked to:

  • Lower quality-of-life later in childhood 1
  • Attention, behavior, and learning problems 2
  • Increased risk of excessive weight gain 1
  • Higher risk of injuries and accidents 2

• The risk of overweight/obesity is significantly increased when short sleep duration is coupled with a late bedtime 1

Sleep Timing Considerations

• In addition to sleep duration, sleep timing may also promote weight regulation 1
• Later sleep onset and later sleep midpoint have been associated with:
  • Higher nighttime energy intake 1
  • Lower morning energy intake 1
  • Delayed timing of both first and last meals of the day 1
  • Greater adiposity gain in follow-up studies 1

Implementation Strategies

• Establish consistent bedtime and wake-up times, even on weekends 1
• Create a sleep-conducive environment that is quiet, dark, and comfortable 4
• Limit screen time to no more than 1 hour per day for three-year-olds, especially before bedtime 1
• Ensure the child engages in at least 3 hours of active play daily at various intensities 1
• For children who still nap, the average nap duration is approximately 75 minutes 5

Current Sleep Patterns in Children

• National data indicates that approximately 34.9% of children aged 4 months-17 years sleep less than recommended for their age 4
• Only 5% of young children meet all components of the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (sleep, physical activity, and screen time), while 83.1% meet the sleep recommendation specifically 3
• Children with a regular bedtime are more likely to get enough sleep 4

The evidence strongly supports that three-year-old children require 10-13 hours of total sleep within a 24-hour period to support optimal development and health outcomes. This recommendation is consistently supported across multiple authoritative guidelines from the WHO, Canadian health authorities, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.