With the right 18 month previous sleep schedule, your toddler ought to sleep 10-12 hours at night time and 2-3 hours in the course of the day. Most toddlers this age are taking one nap, sleeping by means of the night time, and are night-weaned fully. This text will share all the things you could find out 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 night time and 2-3 hours in the course of 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 roughly than the common quantity of sleep. So, in case your toddler is sleeping roughly than the common in a 24-hour interval, in the event that they’re joyful, it’s in all probability high-quality. One of the simplest ways to know in case your toddler is getting sufficient sleep is to watch 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18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule Wake Home windows and Awake Time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 often 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. Nevertheless, in case your toddler takes a nap longer than two hours or is liable to sleeping 11 hours at night time, it might be greatest to attempt to get to five.5-hour wake home windows.
How Many Naps Ought to a 18 Month Outdated Take?
Nearly 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, remember to overview the signs it’s time to drop to one nap. And, when 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 means of the night time, you must NOT wake them from their nap. Nevertheless, there are a number of conditions that you could be need to get up your toddler from napping too lengthy:
- In case your toddler is waking up too early the following day (e.g. 4 or 5 a.m.), napping for over 2 hours, and sleeping much less than 10 hours at night time: Sure, you might need to wake them up from their lengthy nap. Nevertheless, in case your toddler is NOT getting sufficient sleep with their schedule, there might be one more reason they’re waking up too early (see under.) Alternatively, in case your toddler is sleeping for 10 or extra hours at night time 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 course of the night time 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 in the course of the day. Subsequently, you may need to wake them from an extended nap. Nevertheless, contemplate whether or not they want a unique schedule as a substitute. Toddlers who go to mattress at 6:00 or 6:30 PM on this age group can typically have a break up night time 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?
The very best bedtime for an 18 month previous is often 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 guide, in case your toddler’s bedtime is earlier than 7:00 PM, this may trigger issues at night time. A “false begin” is when your toddler wakes up quickly after bedtime as if it was a “nap” and it’s generally brought on by a bedtime that’s too early even with the “proper” wake window.
Alternatively, 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 is no such thing as a “proper” or “flawed” bedtime however it could make an enormous distinction in your toddler’s schedule!
If bedtime is earlier or later than the standard 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 means of the night time and napping longer in the course of the day. Use these pattern schedules that will help you discover the correct one in your distinctive scenario.
Pattern 1-Nap Sleep Schedule
In my 15+ years of expertise as a sleep guide, 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 resembling night-waking or early-waking.
In case your toddler has a 5-hour wake window, their schedule will likely be very related, if not an identical, to our 16 month old sleep schedule or 17 month old sleep schedule. Subsequently, this pattern schedule will likely 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 often should get up 18 month olds within the morning however it could assist if you would like time to your self within the night. Waking up your toddler throughout the identical 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 need to know how one can match meals in to arrange their toddler for achievement in sleeping by means of the night time 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 | Huge Snack + Milk (Second Lunch) |
||
5:30 PM | Small Snack (if obligatory) |
||
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 often should get up 18 month olds within the morning however it could assist if you would like time to your self within the night. Waking up your toddler throughout the identical 30-minute window within the morning (e.g. 7:00 to 7:30 AM) can maintain your schedule extra constant.
Obtain the pattern schedule under 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 purpose 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 purpose for waking up too early, too. Ideally, dinner will likely be no sooner than 6:00 PM, if doable, however yours may 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. Youngsters who’re delicate to mild might get up too early when the solar begins to shine by means of their home windows. Think about 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 a number of 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 purpose for 18 month olds waking up at night time is as a result of 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and lots of toddlers will begin to battle naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can improve. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at night time once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nevertheless, that does NOT imply you must feed them at night time. It means one thing is flawed together with your schedule and that’s why I embrace pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that might be inflicting your toddler to get up at night time. When you can do sleep training, that does NOT repair each trigger. You’ll want to remedy the proper drawback 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 every single day.
18 month olds take one nap a day.
18 month olds sleep for two to three hours in the course of the day.
Wake home windows for 18 month olds are often 5 to five.5 hours. Many toddlers can have an extended wake window earlier than bedtime than earlier than their nap.
The very best bedtime for an 18 month previous is often between 7:00 to eight:00 PM. A bedtime that’s too early may cause false begins, waking up at night time, and waking up too early the following day. A bedtime that’s too late may cause night-waking and early-waking issues.
The most probably purpose your 18 month previous is waking up crying each night time is a sleep regression, starvation, or that bedtime is simply too late. The simplest 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 generally creeps again into the image at this age. Be certain your toddler is consuming three stable 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 dad and mom will transfer their 18 month previous to a toddler mattress or Montessori mattress. Nevertheless, the common age to transition from crib to toddler mattress is 3 to 4 years previous. Transferring to a mattress too early can have disastrous outcomes relying on the scenario! You’ll want to learn When and How to Transition from Crib to Toddler Bed.
Sure! The 18 month old sleep regression is a quite common hassle spot that lasts 3 to six weeks, on common.
The #1 purpose for 18 month olds waking up at night time is as a result of 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and lots of toddlers will begin to battle naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can improve. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at night time once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nevertheless, that does NOT imply you must feed them at night time. It means one thing is flawed together with your schedule and that’s why I embrace pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that might be inflicting your toddler to get up at night time. When you can do sleep training, that does NOT repair each trigger. You’ll want to remedy the proper drawback 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 line with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Though cow’s milk is the commonest, there are a lot of 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.
Typically, you must NOT want to provide your baby below 3 years previous melatonin. As a substitute, please merely put them on the proper schedule! In case you aren’t positive what the issue is, remember to attain out to get assist.
Sure, most 18 month olds nonetheless have to take a nap and it IS too early to cease napping. There isn’t a set age for youngsters to cease napping, nonetheless, most toddlers have to take not less than one nap till 3 to 4 years previous, on common.
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