16 Month Old Sleep Schedule: The Complete Guide

Author Image By Paula McLaren - Norland Nurse NNEB RSH •  Updated: 10/05/22 •  Sleep / Sleep Schedules

Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby onto a regular 16 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make maintaining it as easy as possible.

How Much Should A 16 Month Old Sleep?

Sample 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule

By 16 months old, your little one will be sleeping through the night and having between 1 and 2 naps a day (depending on how busy their day has been).

Here is a sample 16 month old sleep schedule to give you a guideline for how your little one’s day can flow regardless of whether they take 1 or 2 naps:

16 Month Old Sleep Schedule Sample

REMEMBER: This 16 month old sleep schedule is only a guideline and will differ from child to child. The most important thing to focus on is how much sleep your little one requires in 24 hours and work from there.

Nap Schedule For 16 Month Old

You may find that by 16 months old, your child may struggle to settle for their morning nap, but will happily take a longer afternoon nap.

This is the start of a 16 month old nap transition.

Not every child will go through this yet and many 16 month old children will still require 2 naps a day for now.

Here are two handy quick references for a 16 month old nap schedule to help you visualise your child’s daytime sleep habits regardless of whether they have 1 or 2 daytime naps:

1 Nap Schedule For 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule

1 Nap Schedule For 16 Month Old

2 Nap Schedule For 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule

2 Nap Schedule For 16 Month Old

How Long Should A 16 Month Old Nap?

A 16 month old sleep schedule will still require around 2 hours of nap time during the day.

I would not recommend letting your child sleep for longer than 2 hours in the afternoon as this may affect your child’s ability to fall asleep at bedtime.

How Many Naps Should A 16 Month Old Have?

Most 16 month olds will still be taking 2 naps a day but some will have dropped their morning nap and will only have one longer afternoon nap.

How Long Should A 16 Month Old Be Awake Between Naps?

Your 16 month old is now able to stay awake for longer periods of time… happily managing to stay awake for 4 hours between naps. This is why 2 naps per day are better than one.

TOP TIP: If your little one is continually resisting nap time try lengthening the wake window between naps before considering dropping a nap. Also, remember that during a nap transition your toddler may need to nap twice on some days but only once on others depending on how well they have slept at night and how busy their day has been.

Bedtime For 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule

As always, a regular and healthy bedtime routine is essential to your baby’s good night’s sleep as they are proven to improve sleep and reduce nighttime wakings. And for a 16 month old sleep schedule, your baby’s bedtime routine will consist of:

The entire bedtime routine should start between 6pm and 6.30pm and ideally, take no longer than 30 minutes.

REMEMBER: The bedtime routine should follow the same steps and be repeated at the same time every evening to ensure your 16 month old can recognise the signs that bedtime is coming to help them settle and fall asleep more easily. You can use a bedtime routine chart to help your little one know what’s coming up.

What Time Should A 16 Month Old Go To Bed?

For a 16 month old sleep schedule, your little one should be in bed with the lights out by 7pm.

If you want to adjust your schedule to make bedtime a little later you must change your daily nap times accordingly.

But no matter what… your child should not be in bed any later than 8pm to ensure your toddler gets enough sleep to support their brain’s growth and development as well as their physical development.

Looking to get your little one to sleep quickly and effortlessly? Check out my Bedtime and Nap Cheat Sheet and master the art of making daytime naps and bedtimes as seamless as possible.

16 Month Old Sleep Tips

Establishing and maintaining a 16 month old sleep schedule will make your day much easier to manage because after all… Everything starts and ends with sleep!

Here are some of my top sleep tips to make creating and maintaining a 16 month old sleep schedule as simple as possible:

TOP TIP: Time spent lying awake in their crib is an ideal way to navigate nap transitions. Your child may or may not sleep… but having a quiet period without sleep is still restful and recuperating.

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Common 16 Month Old Sleep Problems

The most common sleep problems that your baby may encounter when establishing and maintaining a 16 month old sleep schedule are:

Frequently Asked Questions About A 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule

Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 16 month sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.

Is There a 16 Month Sleep Regression?

Yes and no…

Sleep regressions are possible at any age and can be triggered by all sorts of developmental and environmental occurrences. 

Sleep regressions are more common at 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months, 12 months old and around 18 months old.

But if your 16 month old sleep schedule is disrupted with them fighting sleep, increased nighttime wakings and restlessness then they are very likely experiencing a short-term sleep regression. 

Read these posts to help you navigate this situation:

What Time Should A 16 Month Old Wake Up?

If your 16 month old is going to sleep by 7pm, they should wake anywhere between 6am to 7am the following morning. 16 month olds typically sleep for 10 to 12 hours at night.

How Do I Get My 16 Month Old To Stop Waking In The Night?

If your 16 month old is still waking at night there are a few things that may be affecting their ability to sleep through:

Sleep Schedules Further Reading

Here are some more sleep schedules to help you get the most out of helping your little one sleep as best they can.

After all…

Sleep breeds sleep!

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Author Image Bio
Paula McLaren is the founder of Teething to Tantrums and a highly qualified childcare expert with over 40 years of experience as a Norland Nanny. She holds a BA (Hons) in Early Years Development & Learning (0-6 Years) and the prestigious Norland Diploma. Paula has worked as a night nanny, run a successful daycare center in London, and helped raise countless children using her tried and tested developmental and guidance methods.

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