How Many Naps For A 14 Month Old? | What Experts Recommend

Most 14-month-olds need either one or two naps daily, for a total of 2 to 3 hours of daytime sleep.

You probably expected a clear answer when you looked up how many naps a 14-month-old needs. But toddler sleep doesn’t work that way. At this age, some children still need two solid naps, while others are ready for just one longer midday rest — and both can be completely normal.

Most experts agree that the goal for daytime sleep at this age is about two to three hours total, split between one or two naps. The right number depends on your child’s sleep cues, not a chart. This article walks through the typical nap counts, signs that your child might be ready to drop a nap, and how to handle the transition without losing too much sleep yourself.

Typical Nap Counts at 14 Months

At 14 months, most toddlers need between 11 and 14 hours of total sleep in 24 hours, according to sleep charts from parenting resources. Daytime sleep typically makes up two to three hours of that total, either as one long nap or two shorter ones.

A child still on two naps might sleep, for example, 60 to 90 minutes in the morning and another 60 to 90 minutes in the afternoon. A child on one nap often naps for 1.5 to 3 hours straight, usually starting in the late morning or early afternoon.

These are averages. Some children naturally need more sleep, others less. The key is whether your child wakes happy and stays reasonably content through their awake windows. If your toddler seems overtired or fussy by evening, they may still need two naps. If they resist the second nap but sleep well at night, a one‑nap schedule might be approaching.

Why the One‑Nap Goal Can Feel Confusing

Many parents hear that most children transition from two naps to one between 12 and 18 months. That wide window can feel confusing — you may wonder if your child is behind or ahead. Understanding why the timing varies helps lower the pressure. Here are a few reasons the number of naps at 14 months can differ so much from one toddler to another.

• Individual sleep needs: Some toddlers simply need more daytime rest than others. A low‑sleep‑needs child may drop to one nap earlier, while a high‑needs child may need two until 16 or 18 months.
• Awake window differences: The amount of time a child can comfortably stay awake between sleeps grows gradually. If your toddler still gets cranky after 3 hours, two naps may still suit them best.
• Nap readiness signs vary: One child may start fighting the morning nap, another may refuse the afternoon nap. The pattern is not the same for every baby.
• Developmental leaps: Learning to walk, talk, or climb can disrupt sleep temporarily. What looks like a readiness to drop a nap might be a brief sleep regression that resolves on its own.
• Schedule flexibility: Daycare schedules, family routines, and weekend plans can push a child toward one nap before they’re fully ready, or keep them on two naps longer than needed.

If your child seems happy, well‑rested, and falls asleep easily, their current nap count is probably working — even if it doesn’t match the schedule online.

Recognizing the Signs Your Child Might Be Ready to Drop a Nap

There are several common signs that a toddler may be ready to transition from two naps to one. According to parenting sleep resources, these include regularly fighting or refusing a nap, having trouble falling asleep at bedtime, waking very early in the morning, and nap lengths that change unpredictably.

If your child shows one or two of these signs but not consistently, they might be in a temporary phase. A true readiness to drop a nap usually persists for at least a week or two.

When a toddler is down to just one nap, it’s worth paying attention to how long that nap lasts. Taking Cara Babies’ guide on cap one nap at 3 recommends capping a single nap at about three hours to protect nighttime sleep.

These signs don’t guarantee your child is ready — they’re clues. Pay attention to patterns over multiple days before making a change. If you try dropping a nap and your child becomes overtired, cranky, or wakes frequently at night, you can always go back to two naps.

How to Handle the Nap Transition (Step by Step)

If you’ve decided your 14‑month‑old is ready to move toward one nap, go slowly. A gradual approach tends to work better than going cold‑turkey, because the body needs time to adjust its sleep pressure. Here are steps many parents find helpful during the 2‑to‑1 nap shift.

1. Start by shortening one nap. If your child takes a 60‑minute morning nap and a 90‑minute afternoon nap, try reducing the morning nap to 30‑45 minutes. This keeps some daytime rest while increasing the awake window before the afternoon nap.
2. Push the morning nap later. Gradually move the first nap 15‑30 minutes later every few days. Eventually the morning nap will merge into a single midday nap around 12:00 or 12:30.
3. Offer an earlier bedtime during the transition. When your child drops a nap, they will be more tired at the end of the day. An earlier bedtime (30‑60 minutes earlier than usual) can help prevent overtiredness and night wakings.
4. Be flexible for a few weeks. Some days your child may need two naps, other days just one. That’s normal. The transition can take two to four weeks to stabilize.
5. Watch for overtiredness signs. If your child becomes extra fussy, has trouble falling asleep at night, or wakes frequently, they may need to stay on two naps a bit longer.

The 2‑to‑1 nap transition is one of the bigger sleep shifts in the toddler years. It rarely happens overnight, so patience and consistency make a real difference. Try not to compare your toddler’s schedule to a friend’s — every child’s sleep needs are unique.

What About Sickness and Other Disruptions?

Sleep disruption from illness, teething, or travel can temporarily change how many naps your 14‑month‑old needs. According to the sleep experts at Babysleep, the nap transition age range of 12 to 18 months is wide precisely because life events affect sleep patterns.

During illness, your toddler may need an extra nap or longer rest periods. Let their body guide you, but gently wake them if a nap runs so long that it might interfere with getting a full 9‑12 hours of sleep overnight. Once they recover, nap patterns usually return to normal.

Teething discomfort can also cause nap refusal or shortened naps. Offering a cold teether before nap or using infant pain reliever (with your pediatrician’s approval) may help them settle. Travel and time zone changes can throw off the sleep schedule for a few days. Stick to the usual number of naps but adjust timing based on your child’s tiredness cues.

Keep in mind that disruptions are temporary. They don’t necessarily mean your child is ready to drop a nap permanently. Once things settle, their old schedule often reappears.

The Bottom Line

Most 14‑month‑olds need one or two naps totaling about two to three hours of daytime sleep. The right number for your child depends on their individual sleep needs, awake windows, and development rather than a fixed rule. Watch for readiness signs like nap refusal, bedtime struggles, or early waking before making a change.

If you’re unsure whether your toddler’s nap pattern is normal or interfering with nighttime sleep, your pediatrician can offer guidance tailored to your child’s growth and health.