Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.

the possums
sleep program

find essentialsbrowse the programabout the programspeak to dr pamaudiologin / sign up

search for articles

  • toddler sleep (12-36 months)
  • FAQs

Is it best to sleep your toddler in a cot during the day?

Dr Pamela Douglas11th of Jul 202323rd of May 2024

toddler awake in cot

If your toddler is happy to go down for a nap in a cot during the day, then we don't need to make any changes! But many or even most families find their toddler doesn't like the cot.

Because your toddler has a powerful biological drive for rich and diverse sensory motor exploration, she will often dial up in response to the restraints imposed by a cot. This is not a sign that she is overtired or overstimulated, though you might hear that said. You can find out more here.

Many parents have heard that their small child needs to sleep in the cot to develop good sleep habits, which isn't true. They may have been told to put him in the cot drowsy but awake. These recommendations come out of sleep training approaches. You can find out more here.

Worse, it's quite common for our little ones, who learn so quickly, to develop a conditioned dialling up with the cot. That is, they learn that the cot is a place of low sensory motor input, and cry as soon as you go into the bedroom or they see the cot. No matter how many interesting pictures you put on the wall, or comforters or soft toys you give her, or mobiles you dangle above the cot, she knows it is a low motor sensory environment, and has associated it with being miserable.

Since being dialled up interferes with easy sleep, use of the cot often results in terrible sleep battles between mothers or primary carers and their little one, which distresses and exhausts everybody.

So the answer is, no, it's not best to sleep your toddler in a cot during the day - although if it works for you and your little one then there's no reason to change! Your toddler will take sleep wherever you are, as long as the sleep pressure is high enough. We can let toddler sleep be easy!

Finished

share this article

Next up in FAQs

What to do about toddler sleep when you have an older child or other children who need your attention?

two young brown skinned girls walk with their younger sister

The days and evenings are easiest if you simply expect your toddler to fit in around ordinary daily life with an older sibling or siblings.

The toddler's naps occur on the go during the day, as you meet your older child or children's needs (doing kindy or school drop-offs or taking the older child to music class or soccer practice or play dates or birthday parties), and then plan days you will enjoy as you parent, rich in social connection, walks, and meaningful tasks outside the home.

This means that your toddler is immersed in rich and diverse sensory motor experiences almost by accident as she fits in with your family's life. Sleep looks after itself, especially if you add in your other toddler-sleep...

more articles in FAQs

  • 3

    minute
    read

    How to make the days work when you have a low sleep need toddler?
  • 4

    minute
    read

    Do toddlers become overtired and overstimulated?
  • 5

    minute
    read

    What to do if your toddler only sleeps in the carrier or when being held?
  • 3

    minute
    read

    Will 'capping' naps help with sleep problems when you have a toddler?
View full article list
Possum sleep program logo

the possums
baby & toddler
sleep program

about the programfind essentialsspeak to dr pamaudiocode of ethicsterms & conditionsprivacy policyFAQs / help
Dr Pam logo

© Dr Pamela Douglas 2025

visit drpam.baby for more programs