
With the correct 18 month previous sleep schedule, your toddler ought to sleep 10-12 hours at evening and 2-3 hours through the day. Most toddlers this age are taking one nap, sleeping by the evening, and are night-weaned utterly. This text will share every little thing you have to learn about your 18 month previous’s sleep schedule to assist them sleep longer and be happier!
On this article:
How A lot Sleep 18 Month Olds Want
Most 18 month previous toddlers want 13-14 hours of sleep per day together with 10-12 hours at evening and 2-3 hours through the day. At this age, toddlers are sleeping through the night and taking a single 2-3-hour nap.
In fact, some toddlers will want kind of than the typical quantity of sleep. So, in case your toddler is sleeping kind of than the typical in a 24-hour interval, in the event that they’re glad, it’s in all probability effective. One of the best ways to know in case your toddler is getting sufficient sleep is to look at their temper, their habits, and search for different signs of over-tiredness. Though toddler tantrums are regular, overtired toddlers are inclined to have extra of them.
18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule Wake Home windows and Awake Time
Wake home windows for 18 month olds are normally 5 to five.5 hours each earlier than and after their nap. In case your toddler is fortunately sleeping with a 5-hour awake time, there isn’t any want to extend it. Nonetheless, in case your toddler takes a nap longer than two hours or is liable to sleeping 11 hours at evening, it might be finest to attempt to get to five.5-hour wake home windows.
How Many Naps Ought to a 18 Month Outdated Take?
Virtually all 18 month olds take one nap per day. Most toddlers transition to 1 nap round 15 to 18 months previous. If you’re involved your 18 month previous just isn’t prepared for one nap, make sure to evaluation the signs it’s time to drop to one nap. And, in case you haven’t carried out so already, right here is how to transition to one nap.
In case your 18 month previous toddler is napping for two to three hours every day and sleeping by the evening, it’s best to NOT wake them from their nap. Nonetheless, there are just a few conditions that you could be wish to get up your toddler from napping too lengthy:
- In case your toddler is waking up too early the subsequent day (e.g. 4 or 5 a.m.), napping for over 2 hours, and sleeping much less than 10 hours at evening: Sure, chances are you’ll wish to wake them up from their lengthy nap. Nonetheless, in case your toddler is NOT getting sufficient sleep with their schedule, there might be another excuse they’re waking up too early (see beneath.) However, in case your toddler is sleeping for 10 or extra hours at evening and waking up too early, you would possibly merely wish to shift their schedule forward, as an alternative.
- In case your toddler is awake in the course of the evening for an hour or longer: We name this “child insomnia” or a split night. In case your toddler is taking only one nap, it would imply they’re napping too lengthy through the day. Due to this fact, you would possibly wish to wake them from an extended nap. Nonetheless, think about whether or not they want a unique schedule as an alternative. Toddlers who go to mattress at 6:00 or 6:30 PM on this age group can typically have a cut up evening because of bedtime being too early!
It is a excellent transition to our subsequent part discussing what time an 18 month previous ought to go to mattress!
What Time Ought to a 18 Month Outdated Go to Mattress?
One of the best bedtime for an 18 month previous is normally between 7:00 and eight:00 PM. Every household has a unique way of life, however in my 15+ years of expertise as a sleep advisor, in case your toddler’s bedtime is earlier than 7:00 PM, this will trigger issues at evening. A “false begin” is when your toddler wakes up quickly after bedtime as if it was a “nap” and it’s generally attributable to a bedtime that’s too early even with the “proper” wake window.
However, if bedtime is previous 8:00 PM, until they’re napping later within the day and waking up later within the morning, your toddler is probably going overtired and that may trigger different sleep issues. There isn’t any “proper” or “incorrect” bedtime however it may make an enormous distinction in your toddler’s schedule!
If bedtime is earlier or later than the everyday vary, and sleep is good in your family, there isn’t any want to alter it.
Pattern 18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedules
Placing your 18 month previous on the correct sleep schedule will typically imply a toddler sleeping by the evening and napping longer through the day. Use these pattern schedules that can assist 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 advisor, most 18 month olds are on a 1-nap schedule by now. There are only a few who’re nonetheless taking two naps or, if they’re, they’re having different sleep issues equivalent to night-waking or early-waking.
In case your toddler has a 5-hour wake window, their schedule can be very comparable, if not an identical, to our 16 month old sleep schedule or 17 month old sleep schedule. Due to this fact, this pattern schedule can be for toddlers who’re lengthening their wake home windows.
Here’s a pattern sleep schedule with a 5-hour wake window within the morning and a 5.5-hour wake window within the night:
Time | Wake Window | Exercise | Sleep Size |
7:00 AM | Wake* | ||
12:00 PM | 5 Hours | Nap | 2 to 2.5 hours |
8:00 PM | 5.5 Hours | Bedtime (Asleep by this time) | 11-12 hours |
* Ought to You Wake Your Toddler Up Within the Morning? We don’t normally should get up 18 month olds within the morning however it may assist if you would like time to your self within the night. Waking up your toddler inside the similar 30-minute window within the morning (e.g. 7:00 to 7:30 AM) can maintain your schedule extra constant.
Pattern 1-Nap Sleep Schedule With Meals
Once more, many consumers wish to know find out how to match meals in to arrange their toddler for fulfillment in sleeping by the evening and taking lengthy naps. Right here’s a typical 1-nap schedule with a 5 to five.5-hour wake home windows and meals:
Time | Wake Window | Exercise | Sleep Size |
7:00 AM | Wake* | ||
7:30 AM | Breakfast + Milk | ||
9:30 AM | Snack + Milk | ||
11:30 AM | Lunch + Milk | ||
12:00 PM | 5 Hours | Nap | 2 to 2.5 hours |
3:30 PM | Massive Snack + Milk (Second Lunch) | ||
5:30 PM | Small Snack (if essential) | ||
6:30 PM | Dinner + Milk | ||
8:00 PM | 5.5 Hours | Bedtime (Asleep by this time) | 11 to 12 hours |
* Ought to You Wake Your Toddler Up Within the Morning? We don’t normally should get up 18 month olds within the morning however it may assist if you would like time to your self within the night. Waking up your toddler inside the similar 30-minute window within the morning (e.g. 7:00 to 7:30 AM) can maintain your schedule extra constant.
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!
Why Some 18 Month Olds Wake Up Too Early
Most 18 month olds get up between 6:00 and seven:30 AM. In case your toddler is waking up “too early” (no matter meaning to you), listed here are the commonest causes:
- Overtiredness at Bedtime – The #1 motive for a toddler waking up too early within the morning is because of being overtired at bedtime. If this can be a chance, merely shorten the wake window proper earlier than bedtime.
- Starvation – Providing dinner too early (e.g. 4:30 or 5:00 PM), is a standard motive for waking up too early, too. Ideally, dinner can be no sooner than 6:00 PM, if doable, however yours would possibly have to be later. 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. Kids who’re delicate to mild may get up too early when the solar begins to shine by their home windows. Take into account room-darkening shades, blinds, or curtains.
- Schedule Change – If you’re nonetheless giving your 18 month previous two naps, it’s time to drop one.
Though there are just a few different causes your toddler might be waking up too early, these are the commonest culprits.
Why Some 18 Month Olds Wake Up at Evening and Can You Do Sleep Coaching?
The #1 motive for 18 month olds waking up at evening is as a result of 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and lots of toddlers will begin to combat naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can improve. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at evening once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nonetheless, that does NOT imply it’s best to feed them at evening. It means one thing is incorrect together with your schedule and that’s why I embody pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that might be inflicting your toddler to get up at evening. When you can do sleep training, that does NOT repair each trigger. Make sure you clear up the proper downside and take a look at our article Top 15 Reasons Your Baby Is Waking at Night.
18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule FAQ
An 18 month previous ought to nap for two to three hours whole day by day.
18 month olds take one nap a day.
18 month olds sleep for two to three hours through the day.
Wake home windows for 18 month olds are normally 5 to five.5 hours. Many toddlers could have an extended wake window earlier than bedtime than earlier than their nap.
One of the best bedtime for an 18 month previous is normally between 7:00 to eight:00 PM. A bedtime that’s too early could cause false begins, waking up at evening, and waking up too early the subsequent day. A bedtime that’s too late could cause night-waking and early-waking issues.
The most definitely motive your 18 month previous is waking up crying each evening is a sleep regression, starvation, or that bedtime is simply too late. The best factor to strive first is to maneuver bedtime earlier by 20-Half-hour to see if it improves. If that doesn’t assist, nighttime starvation typically creeps again into the image at this age. Make certain your toddler is consuming three strong meals, 2-3 snacks, and consuming not less than 16-20 oz of milk with not less than 8 grams of protein in it.
Some mother and father will transfer their 18 month previous to a toddler mattress or Montessori mattress. Nonetheless, the typical age to transition from crib to toddler mattress is 3 to 4 years previous. Shifting to a mattress too early can have disastrous outcomes relying on the state of affairs! Make sure you learn When and How to Transition from Crib to Toddler Bed.
Sure! The 18 month old sleep regression is a quite common bother spot that lasts 3 to six weeks, on common.
The #1 motive for 18 month olds waking up at evening is as a result of 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and lots of toddlers will begin to combat naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can improve. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at evening once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nonetheless, that does NOT imply it’s best to feed them at evening. It means one thing is incorrect together with your schedule and that’s why I embody pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that might be inflicting your toddler to get up at evening. When you can do sleep training, that does NOT repair each trigger. Make sure you clear up the proper downside and take a look at 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 keeping with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Though cow’s milk is the commonest, there are numerous choices these days. The kind of milk you provide ought to have a minimal of 8 grams of protein per serving. So, watch out about milk substitutes and the quantity of sugar.
Usually, it’s best to NOT want to present your youngster beneath 3 years previous melatonin. As an alternative, please merely put them on the proper schedule! In the event you aren’t positive what the issue is, make sure to attain out to get assist.
Sure, most 18 month olds nonetheless must take a nap and it IS too early to cease napping. There isn’t a set age for kids to cease napping, nevertheless, most toddlers must take not less than one nap till 3 to 4 years previous, on common.
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