
Set the correct 16 month previous sleep schedule and your toddler will take 2-3-hour naps and sleep via the evening for 11-12 hours! Many toddlers this age are taking only one nap or shifting in that route. With out the correct schedule, many 16 month olds will wake often at evening. This text will share all the pieces you must find out about your 16 month previous’s sleep schedule to assist them sleep longer and be happier!
On this article:
How A lot Sleep 16 Month Olds Want
Most 16 month olds want 13-14 hours of sleep per day together with 11-12 hours at evening and 2-3 hours in the course of the day. At this age, toddlers are sleeping through the night and taking 2-3-hour naps.
In fact, some toddlers will want roughly than the common quantity of sleep. So, in case your toddler is sleeping roughly than 13-14 hours in a 24-hour interval, in the event that they’re completely happy, it’s probably effective. One of the simplest ways to know in case your toddler is getting sufficient sleep is to have a look at their temper, habits, and different signs of over-tiredness. Though toddler tantrums are widespread, overtired toddlers are likely to have extra of them.
16 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule Wake Home windows and Awake Time
The wake window at 16 months, or awake time, is normally 5 hours each earlier than and after their nap. If they’re susceptible to taking a 2.5 to 3-hour nap, you may see a 4.5-hour wake window earlier than and/or after their nap.
If you’re an unfortunate dad or mum and your toddler “solely” sleeps 11 hours at evening and “solely” two hours in the course of the day (13 hours complete), your toddler’s wake window might be 5.5 hours earlier than and after the nap. This is without doubt one of the tougher schedules for a lot of households at this age, although it will get simpler as they method 18 months previous!
How Many Naps Ought to a 16 Month Outdated Take?
Most 16 month olds take only one nap. Be aware that the common age to transition to at least one nap is 15 months old.
In case your toddler isn’t prepared for only one nap, that’s okay! As a substitute, use the 14 month old sleep schedule.
The perfect factor to do is wait to see signs of dropping to one nap earlier than altering their sleep schedule. It is because transitioning too early could cause night-waking and different sleep issues.
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3 Ways to Transition From 2 Naps to 1 Nap – Find the Right Way For Your Toddler
There are just a few situations which may imply it’s best to get up your toddler from napping too lengthy:
- In case your 16 month previous is napping for two to three hours every day and sleeping via the evening: No, it’s best to NOT wake them from their nap.
- In case your toddler is waking up too early the subsequent day comparable to 4 or 5 a.m. and sleeping lower than 10 hours: Sure, you might need to wake them up from their lengthy nap. Nevertheless, in case your toddler is sleeping for 10+ hours at evening and waking up too early, you may merely need to shift their schedule forward, as a substitute.
- In case your toddler is awake in the midst of the evening for an hour or longer: We name this “child insomnia” or a split night. In case your toddler continues to be taking two naps, this can be a signal it’s most likely time to drop a nap (see above). In case your toddler is taking only one nap, it would imply they’re napping too lengthy in the course of the day although that typically solely occurs if the nap is 3+ hours.
- In case your toddler is taking two naps however not prepared for a 1-nap schedule: Sure, you might need to shorten one or each naps to assist handle the schedule earlier than you transition to at least one nap totally. Once more, see our 14 month old sleep schedule submit for extra particulars.
What Time Ought to a 16 Month Outdated Go to Mattress?
The commonest bedtime for a 16 month previous is 7:00 to eight:00 PM.
False begins can happen should you set your toddler’s bedtime sooner than 7:00 PM. On this case, they get up 30-90 minutes later as if bedtime was a “nap.” In case your bedtime is later than 8:00 PM, your toddler may develop into overtired and this will trigger an early-waking drawback.
If bedtime is earlier or later than the standard vary, and sleep is good in your family, there isn’t a want to vary it.
Pattern 16 Month Outdated Sleep Schedules
The proper 16 month previous sleep schedule might help your toddler sleep via the evening, nap longer in the course of the day, and be happier, total. Use these pattern schedules that will help you discover the correct one in your distinctive state of affairs.
Pattern 1-Nap Sleep Schedule
In my 15+ years of expertise as a sleep guide, 16 months is a typical age to be on a 1-nap schedule or transition to it. Understand that in case your toddler takes “simply” a 2-hour nap (which is totally regular), it would be best to keep on with 5-hour wake home windows and attempt for a 12-hour evening.
Nevertheless, in case your little one takes a 2.5 to 3-hour nap, you possibly can supply a 4 to 4.5-hour wake window earlier than their nap and 4.5 to five hours of awake time earlier than bedtime (or vice versa if it really works higher for them). This works greatest for toddlers delicate to over-tiredness.
In case your toddler is sleeping 11 hours at evening and napping for “simply” 2 hours, you may want 5.5-hour wake home windows. All of it is dependent upon how a lot sleep your toddler wants in complete. Don’t be afraid to embrace your little one’s uniqueness!
Here’s a quite common 1-nap schedule to think about:
Time | Wake Window | Exercise | Sleep Size |
7:30 AM | Wake* | ||
12:30 PM | 5 Hours | Nap | 2 to three hours |
7:30 PM | 5 Hours | Bedtime (Asleep by this time) | 11-12 hours |
* Ought to You Wake Your Toddler? On a 1-nap schedule, there isn’t as a lot of a have to wake your toddler and you may normally allow them to sleep. Nevertheless, in case your toddler is routinely sleeping longer than 12 hours at evening and taking quick naps, you might need to restrict nighttime sleep to “depart some” for the daytime. Their complete sleep will keep comparatively fixed so some toddlers can sleep “an excessive amount of” in the course of the day or evening which negatively impacts the opposite.
Pattern 1-Nap Sleep Schedule With Meals
Once more, many purchasers need to know how you can match meals in to arrange their toddler for achievement in sleeping via the evening and taking lengthy, luxurious naps. Right here’s a typical 1-nap schedule with meals:
Time | Wake Window | Exercise | Sleep Size |
7:30 AM | Wake* | ||
8:00 AM | Breakfast + Milk | ||
10:00 AM | Snack + Milk | ||
12:00 PM | Lunch + Milk | ||
12:30 PM | 5 Hours | Nap | 2 to three hours |
3:30 PM | Massive Snack + Milk (Second Lunch) | ||
5:30 PM | Small Snack (if mandatory) | ||
6:30 PM | Dinner + Milk | ||
7:30 PM | 5 Hours | Bedtime (Asleep by this time) | 11 to 12 hours |
* Ought to You Wake Your Toddler? On a 1-nap schedule, there isn’t as a lot of a have to wake your toddler and you may normally allow them to sleep. Nevertheless, in case your toddler is routinely sleeping longer than 12 hours at evening and taking quick naps, you might need to restrict nighttime sleep to “depart some” for the daytime. Their complete sleep will keep comparatively fixed so some toddlers can sleep “an excessive amount of” in the course of the day or evening which negatively impacts the opposite.
Obtain the pattern schedule beneath by clicking on it after which right-clicking:

Pattern Toddler Schedules By Month For All Ages
Do you know we’ve pattern toddler schedules by month for all ages? Test it out!
What Ought to You Do If Your Toddler Can’t Sleep 12 Hours?
First, know that even when your toddler by no means slept 12 hours at evening on a 2-nap schedule, it doesn’t imply they gained’t when on a 1-nap schedule. My son solely began sleeping 12 hours at evening as soon as we transitioned from two naps to at least one nap! Be sure to give them 2-3 weeks to regulate to the brand new schedule earlier than you quit!
In case your toddler can’t appear to sleep 12 hours at evening and also you’ve given them at the least two weeks to regulate, you may want to regulate your wake home windows to be longer than is snug in the meanwhile. Often, it’s greatest to have a shorter wake window earlier than the nap and an extended one after the nap, however not at all times. You may have to experiment, although, as a result of, over time, I’ve seen all various kinds of schedules work!
Why Some 16 Month Olds Wake Up Too Early
In case your 16 month previous is waking up too early within the morning at 4 or 5 am, for instance, there are just a few widespread causes:
- Overtiredness at Bedtime – In case your toddler’s wake window is simply too lengthy earlier than bedtime, that is the #1 motive for waking up too early the subsequent day. Shorten the wake window proper earlier than bedtime. In case your toddler wakes up crying, that is the probably motive.
- Starvation – In case you supply dinner too early (e.g. 4:30 or 5:00 PM), this can be a widespread motive for waking up too early. Ideally, dinner shall be no sooner than 6:00 PM, if potential. Whereas some toddlers can go 13 hours with out consuming, some toddlers merely can’t.
- Dawn – We are supposed to rise with the solar and fall asleep with the sundown. Unnatural mild has made all of our bedtimes later than pure. Youngsters who’re delicate to mild may get up too early when the solar begins to shine via their home windows. Take into account room-darkening shades, blinds, or curtains.
- Schedule Change – If you’re nonetheless giving your 16 month previous two naps, it’s most likely time to drop one.
Though there are just a few different causes your toddler might be waking up too early, these are the most typical culprits.
Why Some 16 Month Olds Wake Up at Evening and Can You Do Sleep Coaching?
There might be many causes inflicting your toddler to get up at evening. When you can do sleep training, that doesn’t repair each trigger. Remember to resolve the proper drawback and take a look at our article Top 15 Reasons Your Baby Is Waking at Night.
16 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule FAQ
No, it’s not too early for one nap for many 16 month previous toddlers.
16 month olds nap for two to three hours complete on daily basis.
Many 16 month olds take only one nap although a small share are nonetheless taking two naps.
Daytime sleep for 16 month olds ought to complete 2 to three hours.
Wake home windows for 16 month olds are normally 5 hours earlier than and after their nap.
A typical bedtime for a 16 month previous is between 7:00 to eight:00 PM.
In case you lately transitioned to at least one nap, the probably motive your 16 month previous is waking up crying each evening is that bedtime is simply too late. Transfer bedtime earlier by 20-Half-hour to see if it improves.
No, there’s sometimes NOT a 16 month sleep regression. Greater than probably, your toddler is altering their sleep schedule which could appear as if a sleep regression.
There might be many causes your toddler is waking up at evening. When you can do sleep training, that doesn’t repair each motive. Clear up the proper drawback! And, remember to try our article Top 15 Reasons Your Baby Is Waking at Night.
Toddlers ought to drink 16-20 oz of milk per day till they’re 5 years previous in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Though cow’s milk is the most typical, there are lots of choices these days. The kind of milk you supply ought to have a minimal of 8 grams of protein per serving so watch out about milk substitutes and the quantity of sugar.
Usually, you shouldn’t want to present your little one underneath 3 years previous melatonin. As a substitute, put them on the correct schedule. In case your toddler’s bedtime is simply too late or your toddler is taking too lengthy to go to sleep, it’s probably as a result of it’s time to drop a nap.
Whereas there isn’t a set age for kids to cease napping, typically, most toddlers have to take at the least one nap till 3 to 4 years previous, on common. So, sure, 16 months previous is simply too early to cease napping.
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