How Much Should My Child Sleep at Daycare?

Sleep is essential for little children's well-being, development and mood. But how much sleep does a child in vuggestue (Danish daycare for children under three) actually need? How long should the midday nap be, and how do you know if your child is getting enough sleep?

How Much Should a Child Sleep at Daycare?

For many children, sleep at daycare makes up an important part of their total sleep needs. Some children take one long midday nap, while others need two shorter naps. It depends on things like your child's age, their night-time sleep and their individual needs.

A child who sleeps 11 hours at night and two hours at daycare, for example, gets 13 hours of sleep in a day. That's within the recommended sleep range for many children aged 1–2.

Another child of the same age may need more sleep to thrive. So there's no single nap length that suits every child at daycare.

Is It Okay to Wake Your Child From Their Nap?

Some parents worry that a long midday nap will affect their child's night-time sleep. Others find that their child struggles to fall asleep in the evening if they've slept for a long time during the day.

There's no one answer that fits every child.

If your child sleeps well at night, falls asleep fairly easily in the evening and seems well rested during the day, there's often no reason to change a nap that works.

If, on the other hand, your child repeatedly finds it hard to fall asleep in the evening, it may be worth looking at the timing and length of their daytime nap.

Talk to the daycare about your child's sleep, and explore together whether the routines need adjusting. Any changes should take your child's overall sleep needs and well-being into account.

Why Do Some Children Sleep Worse When They Start Daycare?

The move from home to daycare is a big one for a little child.

There are new adults, other children, sounds, routines and lots of impressions to take in. At the same time, your child has to get used to sleeping somewhere else – and perhaps with different bedtime rituals than at home.

That can affect their sleep for a while.

Some children get extra tired from all the new impressions. Others find it hard to settle because their surroundings are different, or because they need extra reassurance.

It's not unusual for sleep to change during indkøring – the gradual settling-in period when your child starts daycare. Creating familiarity between home and daycare can help here.

When Should You Worry About Your Child's Sleep?

It's completely natural to worry if your child sleeps very little, wakes up many times at night or seems tired all the time.

Children's sleep patterns can change a lot in the first years of life, and there's a big difference in how much sleep each child needs.

If you're unsure whether your child is getting enough sleep, you can start by looking at their total sleep over 24 hours.

You might jot down when your child falls asleep, wakes up, naps and seems tired. That can give you a better overview of your child's sleep pattern. Also talk to the daycare about how your child seems during the day.

If your child snores loudly, has pauses in their breathing while asleep, is unusually sleepy or has ongoing sleep problems, you should contact your doctor to have it looked at.

You don't have to find all the answers yourself. Your health visitor and your doctor can help you work out whether there's reason to look more closely at your child's sleep.

Sleep Is Also About Feeling Safe

When we talk about little children's sleep, the focus often ends up on hours, naps and bedtimes. But sleep is also about feeling safe.

For a little child, falling asleep can mean letting go of the connection to mum, dad or another trusted adult. That's why a child often needs closeness, repetition and help to settle.

Some children fall asleep quickly, while others need more support. Both can be completely normal. The most important thing is to meet your child with care and be curious about what they need.

Your Child Has Their Own Sleep Needs

There's no one perfect sleep plan that suits every child at daycare.

Age can be a good guideline, but your child's individual needs, well-being and development matter just as much.

If your child sleeps less than other children, it isn't automatically a problem. And if your child needs more sleep, that isn't necessarily a sign that something is wrong either.

Look at the bigger picture:

• How is your child doing during the day?

• Do they have the energy for play and time together?

• Do they generally seem well rested?

• Is sleep working reasonably well for your family?

When home and daycare work together on your child's sleep, it becomes easier to create an everyday life with room for rest, development and feeling safe.