24 Month Sleep Routine: Tips for Your Toddler's

Changing Sleep

Sleeping four month old baby lying on their back

What it is, why sleep shifts again, and how to support it


If your toddler was sleeping reasonably well and suddenly bedtime feels harder, nights become more disrupted, or fears and resistance appear out of nowhere, you are not imagining it. From around two years onward, sleep often shifts again as toddlers move through a big period of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural development.

This stage commonly overlaps with the 24 month sleep regression, alongside increased imagination, independence, and awareness of their surroundings. While sleep can feel challenging during this time, these changes are very common and developmentally expected, and with the right routine and environment in place, sleep can settle again.

What does sleep look like from 24 months onward?

From two years and beyond, toddlers are firmly on one nap and capable of managing much longer awake periods. At the same time, emotional development accelerates, which can directly impact sleep.

You may see:

  • Increased resistance at bedtime

  • New fears or worries around sleep

  • Calling out or getting out of bed overnight

  • Lighter sleep and more vivid dreaming

These changes are often linked to growing imagination, emotional awareness, and changes in how toddlers process the world.

How much sleep does a toddler need from 24 months

Most toddlers aged two years and older are aiming for around 10–13 hours of total sleep across 24 hours, including day sleep and overnight sleep.

This range allows for significant variation. Some toddlers sit comfortably at the lower end, while others still need closer to the higher end. Both can be completely normal.

Day sleep is typically one nap, and overnight sleep may shorten slightly compared to infancy as sleep needs reduce.

how much sleep does a toddler need

One-nap routines at 24+ months

From this age, routines are anchored around one nap and a later bedtime than in earlier toddlerhood. The key is consistency and a routine that matches your child’s total sleep needs.

You may see routines such as:

Example one

Example two

Example three

These routines reflect the wide variation in sleep needs at this age. Later bedtimes are very common and do not indicate a problem, provided total sleep remains within a healthy range.

Fear, imagination, and sleep

As toddlers approach and move beyond two years, imagination becomes much more active. This can show up as fear of the dark, worries about being alone, or increased sensitivity at bedtime.

It is also common for toddlers to experience parasomnia, such as night terrors or confusional arousals, which can be alarming but are usually harmless and developmentally driven.

These experiences can make sleep feel less predictable for a period of time, even when routines are consistent.

The toddler sleep environment

Sleep at this age is strongly influenced by the toddler environment. Toddlers are highly aware of their surroundings, boundaries, and routines.

Clear sleep cues, a calm bedroom setup, and predictable expectations around bedtime and overnight behaviour all play an important role in supporting settled sleep.

Environmental changes, such as moving rooms or changing beds, can temporarily disrupt sleep and should be approached with consistency and preparation.

Bedtime resistance and boundary testing

Bedtime battles are very common from two years onward. This stage brings strong opinions, a desire for control, and increasing independence.

Toddlers may resist bedtime through:

  • Consistently refusing one nap

  • Managing long awake periods comfortably

  • Taking one longer nap

  • Bedtime becoming very late or difficult on two naps

These behaviours are not signs of poor sleep habits. They reflect normal developmental boundary testing and emotional growth.

Supporting sleep from 24 months onward

  • Keep nap and bedtime timings consistent

  • Expect later bedtimes as sleep needs reduce

  • Support fears with reassurance while holding clear boundaries

  • Keep the sleep environment calm and predictable

  • Avoid making frequent routine changes

  • Respond consistently to overnight behaviour

At this age, confidence and consistency from caregivers are just as important as the routine itself.

Need personalised support for your toddler's sleep?

If you are not sure whether your toddler's routine is right for this stage, or sleep is starting to feel really hard, there team is here to help.

Based in Melbourne, Australia and supporting families Australia-wide, the team offers:

30-minute sleep consultation - a focused session where we look at your baby's routine, naps, feeds, awake windows, and overnight waking, then give you clear, practical next steps tailored to your family.

Two Week Sleep Support - a fully guided two-week program that includes a personalised sleep plan, a 60-minute consultation, and 14 days of weekday support while you make changes. Ideal if sleep feels really unsustainable and you want more hands-on help.

In-home sleep support - hands-on, face-to-face support for families in Melbourne and surrounding areas who want someone there with them through the process.

Sleepy Little Bubs is based in Melbourne and offers virtual sleep consultations across Australia and worldwide, with in-home sleep support available in Melbourne and surrounding areas.

Whether you need quick clarity or more structured support, we can help you find the right next step.

Certified paediatric sleep consultant Eva Beke with her children.

Eva Beke

Certified Paediatric Sleep Consultant

Founder The Sleepy Little Bubs

I’m Eva Beke, a certified baby sleep consultant and founder of The Sleepy Little Bubs, supporting families across Australia and the world with evidence based baby and toddler sleep support.

My approach is realistic, supportive, and designed to evolve as your child grows, so you’re not just getting help for today, but confidence moving forward.