12-month sleep regression: walking, nap refusal and what helps

The "12-month sleep regression" is the name parents give to a patch of extra night waking, bedtime protests and nap refusal around the first birthday. It isn't a medical diagnosis, and not every baby has one. When it happens, it usually lines up with real changes: pulling to stand and first steps, separation anxiety, and first molars, which the NHS teething guide says usually come through at around 12 months.

The most common trap at this age is reading a few days of nap refusal as a sign your baby is ready for one nap. Most toddlers make that move somewhere between 12 and 18 months, and a short-lived refusal is often a phase. Keeping two naps, a steady bedtime routine and calm, consistent nights usually carries you through.

Why does sleep change around the first birthday?

Standing, cruising and first steps

The CDC's 1-year milestone checklist includes pulling up to stand and walking while holding on to furniture, and its 15-month checklist includes taking a few steps alone. A baby in the middle of learning to walk may stand up between sleep cycles, cruise around the cot, or be too excited to settle.

Separation anxiety

KidsHealth's guide to separation anxiety says that around the first birthday, many kids develop separation anxiety. Bedtime is the longest goodbye of the day, so protests at lights-out and calling out overnight are common. The AAP notes that many toddlers start showing separation challenges at 15 or 18 months, so this can come and go through the second year.

First molars

The NHS says first molars usually come through at around 12 months, and lists not sleeping well, a sore, red gum and more dribbling or chewing among the possible signs. It also says there's no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea. See teething.

Busy lives

The first birthday often coincides with big changes: starting childcare, a parent returning to work, moving from bottles to cups, or travel to see family. Each can unsettle sleep for a while.

How much sleep does a 1-year-old need?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours, including naps, for children aged 1 to 2. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (SCHN) says this usually means about 10 to 12 hours at night plus 1 to 2.5 hours of daytime naps. The NHS gives a slightly higher figure of around 12 to 15 hours after the first birthday.

For example days, see the 12–18 month sleep schedule.

Is my 1-year-old ready for one nap?

Probably not yet, even if they're refusing a nap this week. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says two naps will likely reduce to one between 12 and 18 months. KidsHealth's toddler sleep guide says most toddlers condense two naps into one afternoon nap at around 18 months, or sometimes sooner, and that a toddler who fights the morning nap is probably ready for just an afternoon nap.

The difference is consistency. A refused nap during a burst of walking or a run of teething often bounces back once things settle. A real transition looks like a steady pattern over a couple of weeks.

While you wait and see, offer both naps. If the morning nap is refused, quiet time in the cot or a short pram walk can still help, and an earlier bedtime can cover a short day. When the time comes, two to one nap covers how to make the switch.

What helps the 12-month sleep regression?

1. Practise walking during the day. Lots of time cruising, standing and sitting back down gives your toddler a chance to master these skills while they're awake.
2. Keep the bedtime routine the same. The CDC's 15-month page suggests a calm, quiet bedtime, such as putting on pyjamas, brushing teeth and reading one or two books, and says consistent sleep times make bedtime easier. See bedtime routine.
3. Practise goodbyes. KidsHealth suggests a pleasant, loving and firm goodbye ritual and always returning when you've promised. The AAP suggests keeping goodbyes short and consistent. See separation anxiety.
4. Bring something familiar to new places. The CDC suggests bringing a favourite toy, stuffed animal or blanket to help comfort your baby with new caregivers, which can help with childcare naps.
5. Respond calmly and briefly at night. If your toddler stands up, lay them back down, offer a few quiet words and a pat, and keep lights low. KidsHealth notes that with toddlers, too much interaction during night checks can backfire.
6. Think before adding a bottle back. The AAP's healthy sleep habits page advises against putting a child to bed with a bottle of juice, milk or formula because it can cause tooth decay. The NHS says that for some babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary.
7. Watch the wake-up-to-bedtime stretch. An overtired toddler finds it harder to settle, so bring bedtime earlier after a short nap day. See overtired baby.

If you feel overwhelmed, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's crying baby guide advises placing your child in their cot, walking away and returning when you feel calm. Never shake a baby or child.

How long does the 12-month sleep regression last?

Cleveland Clinic says sleep regressions typically last a week or two, and notes that research hasn't shown them happening like clockwork at a specific age. No source gives a reliable duration for this age. A patch can feel longer when walking, a new tooth and a childcare start all land in the same month.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says that after 12 months, waking at night is still common and toddlers may need support to return to sleep. So the goal is fewer, shorter wakings that your child can settle from, not a perfect night every night.

How do you keep sleep safe for a new walker?

• Keep the cot base low. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's cot guide says to set an adjustable cot at the lower height for older babies so they can't fall or climb out.
• Keep the cot clear. Leave out pillows, cot bumpers and large soft toys.
• Back to sleep until the first birthday. Safe to Sleep advises placing babies on their back to sleep until they're 1 year old, and says that once a baby can roll both ways on their own, they can stay in the position they choose.
• Consider a comfort item after the first birthday. KidsHealth suggests a small comfort object such as a soft toy or blanket can reassure toddlers aged 1 to 2.
• If your toddler starts climbing out, that's a safety issue rather than a sleep one; see cot to bed transition.

When should you get help?

These tiers are based on the NHS guide to urgent medical help for under-5s.

Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now if your child is struggling to breathe, has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin or lips, is floppy, very hard to wake or can't be woken, is having a seizure, or hasn't had a wet nappy in 12 hours.

Get medical advice today (GP or a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US)) if your child isn't feeding or drinking, has been vomiting for 24 hours, has a fever and seems unwell, or you think something is wrong.

Talk to your GP or child-health nurse soon if sleep is getting steadily worse or hasn't eased after a few weeks, your child snores most nights, or they've lost skills they had or aren't meeting milestones. The CDC says to act early rather than wait if you're concerned about development. If broken nights are wearing you down, you can also contact a parenting support service (Tresillian or Karitane in Australia, your health visitor in the UK, your pediatrician's office in the US). If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your child, call a crisis line (Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, 988 in the US) or your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now.

What to note during a rough patch

Note nap times and lengths, when night wakings happen and what helped, plus new skills, teeth, illness or changes like starting childcare. A couple of weeks of notes makes it much easier to tell a temporary wobble from a real move to one nap.