How much sleep does a 4-year-old need?

A 4-year-old child needs between 11 and 12 hours of sleep in any 24-hour period. A child at this age may get sleep through naps as well as nighttime sleep.

The amount of sleep the child needs at night is reduced by the amount the child naps during the day. If a preschool child cannot fall asleep at night, has not napped during the day and appears cranky or irritable, the child may be overtired. Falling asleep in the car is another sign that a preschooler may need more sleep. While a child's sleep needs reduce with age, most children need more sleep than their parents realize.