

With the correct 18 month outdated sleep schedule, your toddler ought to sleep 10-12 hours at night time and 2-3 hours throughout the day. Most toddlers this age are taking one nap, sleeping by way of the night time, and are night-weaned utterly. This text will share all the pieces you want to learn about your 18 month outdated’s sleep schedule to assist them sleep longer and be happier!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Most 18 month outdated toddlers want 13-14 hours of sleep per day together with 10-12 hours at night time and 2-3 hours throughout the day. At this age, toddlers are sleeping by way of the night time 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 completely happy, it’s in all probability nice. One of the simplest ways to know in case your toddler is getting sufficient sleep is to look at their temper, their conduct, and search for different indicators of over-tiredness. Though toddler tantrums are regular, overtired toddlers are likely 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18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule Wake Home windows and Awake Time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 a want to extend it. Nonetheless, in case your toddler takes a nap longer than two hours or is liable to sleeping 11 hours at night time, it may very well be finest 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How Many Naps Ought to a 18 Month Outdated Take?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 Most toddlers transition to at least one nap round 15 to 18 months outdated. In case you are involved your 18 month outdated shouldn’t be prepared for one nap, remember to evaluate the indicators it’s time to drop to at least one nap. And, should you haven’t carried out so already, right here is how you can transition to at least one nap.
In case your 18 month outdated toddler is napping for two to three hours every day and sleeping by way of the night time, you must NOT wake them from their nap.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 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, 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 may very well 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 wish to shift their schedule ahead, as an alternative.
- 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 break up night time. In case your toddler is taking only one nap, it’d imply they’re napping too lengthy throughout the day. Subsequently, you may wish to wake them from a protracted nap. Nonetheless, contemplate whether or not they want a distinct schedule as an alternative. Toddlers who go to mattress at 6:00 or 6:30 PM on this age group can typically have a break up night time as a result of bedtime being too early!
It is a excellent transition to our subsequent part discussing what time an 18 month outdated ought to go to mattress!
What Time Ought to a 18 Month Outdated Go to Mattress?
The perfect bedtime for an 18 month outdated is normally between 7:00 and eight:00 PM. Every household has a distinct 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 will 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 attributable to a bedtime that’s too early even with the “proper” wake window.
Alternatively, if bedtime is previous 8:00 PM, except 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 “unsuitable” 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 a want to alter it.
Pattern 18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedules
Placing your 18 month outdated on the suitable sleep schedule will typically imply a toddler sleeping by way of the night time and napping longer throughout the day. Use these pattern schedules that will help you discover the suitable one on your distinctive state of affairs.
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 comparable, if not similar, to our 16 month outdated sleep schedule or 17 month outdated 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 normally need to 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 throughout 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 purchasers wish to know how you can match meals in to arrange their toddler for fulfillment in sleeping by way 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 | 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 need to 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 throughout 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 under by clicking on it after which right-clicking:

Pattern Toddler Schedules By Month For All Ages
Do you know we’ve got 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 which means to you), listed here are the commonest causes:
- Overtiredness at Bedtime – The #1 cause for a toddler waking up too early within the morning is because of being overtired at bedtime. If it is a risk, 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 cause for waking up too early, too. Ideally, dinner will likely be no sooner than 6:00 PM, if attainable, however yours may should 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 way of their home windows. Take into account room-darkening shades, blinds, or curtains.
- Schedule Change – In case you are nonetheless giving your 18 month outdated two naps, it’s time to drop one.
Though there are just a few different causes your toddler may very well 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 cause for 18 month olds waking up at night time is because of the 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and plenty of toddlers will begin to struggle naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can enhance. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at night time once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nonetheless, that does NOT imply you must feed them at night time. It means one thing is unsuitable along with your schedule and that’s why I embrace pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that may very well be inflicting your toddler to get up at night time. Whilst you can do sleep coaching, that does NOT repair each trigger. Make sure you clear up the proper downside and take a look at our article High 15 Causes Your Child Is Waking at Evening.
18 Month Outdated Sleep Schedule FAQ
An 18 month outdated ought to nap for two to three hours complete on daily basis.
18 month olds take one nap a day.
18 month olds sleep for two to three hours throughout the day.
Wake home windows for 18 month olds are normally 5 to five.5 hours. Many toddlers may have an extended wake window earlier than bedtime than earlier than their nap.
The perfect bedtime for an 18 month outdated is normally between 7:00 to eight:00 PM. A bedtime that’s too early could cause false begins, waking up at night time, and waking up too early the following day. A bedtime that’s too late could cause night-waking and early-waking issues.
The almost certainly cause your 18 month outdated is waking up crying each night time is a sleep regression, starvation, or that bedtime is simply too late. The best factor to attempt 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. Be sure that 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 outdated to a toddler mattress or Montessori mattress. Nonetheless, the typical age to transition from crib to toddler mattress is 3 to 4 years outdated. Transferring to a mattress too early can have disastrous outcomes relying on the state of affairs! Make sure you learn When and Methods to Transition from Crib to Toddler Mattress.
Sure! The 18 month outdated sleep regression is a quite common hassle spot that lasts 3 to six weeks, on common.
The #1 cause for 18 month olds waking up at night time is because of the 18 month sleep regression! Throughout this time, separation anxiousness peaks, and plenty of toddlers will begin to struggle naps and bedtime. Schedules can get off-course and tantrums can enhance. As well as, many 18 month olds begin waking up at night time once more from starvation. Sure, starvation! Nonetheless, that does NOT imply you must feed them at night time. It means one thing is unsuitable along with your schedule and that’s why I embrace pattern schedules with meals above.
There are different causes that may very well be inflicting your toddler to get up at night time. Whilst you can do sleep coaching, that does NOT repair each trigger. Make sure you clear up the proper downside and take a look at our article High 15 Causes Your Child Is Waking at Evening.
Toddlers ought to drink 16-20 oz of milk per day till they’re 5 years outdated 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 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 must NOT want to provide your baby underneath 3 years outdated melatonin. As an alternative, please merely put them on the proper schedule! In case you aren’t certain what the issue is, remember 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 youngsters to cease napping, nevertheless, most toddlers must take not less than one nap till 3 to 4 years outdated, on common.