How much sleep does a 2-year-old need?
I know we've talked about this before but I can't really remember. I know it absolutely varies from kid-to-kid, but I guess I'm wondering, in general, what amount of sleep a two-year-old really *needs*? (Actually, she's closer to 3--birthday in November.) I ask because Selah has of late been super-cranky, especially in the mornings. I have generally made a habit of putting her to bed around 9, with her waking in the morning around 7/7:30, but lately, I've been hard-pressed to get her out of bed by 7:45 or 8, and she has been a BEAR to get dressed, ready, and out the door. Honestly, she just seems tired! I've decided to try getting her in bed at night by 8:30 to see if it helps at all. She also takes a nap at daycare every day (and at home on weekends), generally for around two hours (although at times she sleeps for more than that!).
I'm more than happy to put her to bed earlier but I guess I'm just kind of surprised--she seems to need upwards of 12-13 hours of sleep every day, and lately, even that doesn't seem like enough! Anyone else have a kid who seems to need a heck of a lot of sleep?
I realize that there could be growth spurt issues going on here but this has been going on for a while now.
I read somewhere it's between 12-15 hours per day, but that is suppose to include nap time.Anything else major change for her lately? Did she start a new daycare or a new schedule at all? Maybe she is getting ready to have a growth spurt.
Jessica
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."~~~~~Richard Bach
Jessica
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~~Dr.Seuss
growth spurt too. i don't know how much sleep they are supposed ot get but nia definitely sleeps like a rock when she's growing. it's heavenly (only b/c we don't have an early morning schedule, mind you, and i love to sleep in). then all of a sudden she'll go back to sleeping no as much and her pants are shorter.
i guess if i were in your shoes, i would move her bedtime back by 30 mins every night until i tacked on an extra hour or so. don't know if it will work, but good luck!
"we seek not rest but transformation. We are dancing through each other as doorways." ~ Marge Piercy
Take that how ya want, but I really do like babycenter.com....and they had This sleep chart for 2-8 years old. I'm not sure if it;s helpful but I found it interesting 
sending you sleepy-time vibes 
“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.� “If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.�
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No, not a tool--thanks! I know you have to take all of this kind of stuff with a grain of salt but honestly, I think that it sounds about right from what I'm seeing. Selah definitely seems to need at *least* 12 hours of sleep a day and, right now, at least, probably more.
I know this isn't relative to the chart here but it just occurred to me that, even if she's not experiencing a growth spurt, there's just *got* to be a lot of mental and emotional energy involved in being a two-and-a-half year old! SOOO much to learn, so much energy exerted, etc. And it can frankly just be tough, I'm sure, to be struggling with and learning to properly exercise your independence!