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Expert Reviewed By - Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby onto a regular 17 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make creating and maintaining it as easy as possible.
How Much Should A 17 Month Old Sleep?
Your 17 month old should sleep between 12-14 hours in a 24 hour period.
This will consist of 10 to 12 hours taken at night and the balance taken over 1 to 2 daytime naps.
Sample 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
By 17 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 17 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:
REMEMBER: This 17 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 17 Month Old
You may find that by 17 months old, your child is struggling to settle for their morning nap, but will happily take a longer afternoon nap.
This is known as the 17 month old nap transition.
Not every child will go through this yet and many 17 month old children will still require 2 naps the majority of the time…
However, here are two handy quick references for a 17 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 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
2 Nap Schedule For 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
How Many Naps For A 17 Month Old?
Most 17 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.
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.
How Long Should A 17 Month Old Nap?
A 17 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.
Is 17 Months Too Early For One Nap?
No, 17 months is not too early for one nap.
However, you may find that on busy days your baby still requires 2 naps to help them recover their energy.
TOP TIP: During a nap transition, swap baby’s morning nap with quiet time. This will give your child the opportunity to rest and recover (maybe even nap) if they need.
Bedtime For 17 Month Old
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 17 month old sleep schedule, your baby’s bedtime routine will consist of:
- Having a calm dinner time,
- Followed by a warm and calm bath,
- Cosying up together with a suitable book,
- Having a drink,
- And finally, settling down to sleep in their crib in a dimly lit room.
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 17 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 17 Month Old Go To Bed?
For a 17 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.
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Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
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17 Month Old Sleep Tips
Establishing and maintaining a 17 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 17 month old sleep schedule as simple as possible.
- Get some fresh air every day. Fresh and natural light will help to regulate your baby’s melatonin levels and circadian rhythm. Taking your baby outside every day for a walk or simply sitting in the garden to play on a blanket will definitely help establish a healthy 17 month old sleep schedule.
- Try to avoid overtiredness. As your baby becomes more active and stays awake for longer periods of time to explore and investigate their world it is very easy for them to become overtired, resulting in them fighting sleep. So, watch for sleep cues and ensure your little one has the correct amount of day time sleep and a regular bedtime as a part of their 17 month old sleep schedule.
TOP TIP: Time spent lying awake quietly in their crib is an ideal way to navigate nap transitions. They may sleep, they may not but having a quiet period without sleep is better than being busy.
- Encourage falling to sleep independently. If you have not done so already then encouraging your little one to fall asleep independently is now essential. Being able to fall asleep alone will help with bedtime settling and nighttime waking. If your little one is struggling try introducing a cuddly comfort toy or their favourite blanket to keep them company or play some appropriate sleep-settling music.
The calming music and sounds combined with the super-soft fabric and rhythmic breathing motion of this otter-ly cuddly pal will help soothe and comfort your little one, at home or wherever you go. Plus, it's even machine washable for when the inevitable spillages and floor drops happen!
- Be consistent with how you treat nighttime waking. As your 17 month old baby is now on a well-established solid diet with 3 meals a day, they do not require feeding at night. Therefore, if your baby wakes at night, wait a while to see if they will resettle and if necessary, go and comfort them without picking them up or talking.
- Offer a bedtime snack and milky drink. While your baby should not be waking for feeds in the night… they wake up early because they’re thirsty or a little hungry. Ensuring they have enough to drink and eat before bedtime will ensure that hunger or thirst are not the reasons for your toddler’s nighttime wakings.
- Introduce a night light. Introducing a night light can help alleviate separation anxiety and help your little one to self-settle. Some white noise machines come with built-in night lights but there are some lovely night lights out there that can also project onto the ceiling, like this one:
Finding the right night light for your child can be quite a task. You want something safe, comforting, and practical. The Cozy Starry Night Light ticks these boxes, with eye-friendly warm lighting and an easy-to-use dimmer.
Its gentle glow makes it the best night light for feeding baby, diaper changes, or comforting your little one back to sleep.
As your baby grows the Cozy Starry Night Light's starry sky projection can provide comfort and gentle quiet time stimulation. Its soft lighting ensures a dreamy, peaceful environment, supporting your baby’s natural sleep cycle.
It really is a fantastic nightlight (at a very reasonable price!)
- Eye-friendly warm lighting with adjustable brightness.
- Includes a timer function for convenience.
- Projects a starry sky that is soothing for little ones.
- Rechargeable battery, so it's very portable.
- A USB adapter is not included for charging.
- The star projector is static without motion (however, this is ideal for very young babies and toddlers).
- Battery life varies based on the brightness settings.
- Offer something to play with when your little one wakes early. If your 17 month old is waking early and does not want to go back to sleep, keep some toys and books nearby that you can give them to play with while you return to bed for a while. This is a great habit to get into and encourages your baby to play independently when they wake up as they grow.
- Have a regular bedtime routine. I cannot emphasise how important it is to have a consistent bedtime routine. Start the routine at the same time every day and aim to have your baby in bed at the same time each evening.
- Lower the energy at the end of the day. By 17 months old, your baby is more aware of what is going on around them and can be more easily distracted… So prepare your baby for sleep by not letting things get too exciting before bedtime. Keep your interactions calm and low-key.
- No screens AT LEAST 1 hour before bed. Now your baby is a little older you may be tempted to let them play with a screen device. My advice would be to not let this happen at such a young age… But if you do decide for your little one to have screen time they should not be on it at least 1 hour before bed as the blue light emitted from screens is proven to disrupt your child’s ability to sleep. Complete simple games with wooden toys or read books together instead.
Scandiborn does quite a few stacking toys all of which are great but I especially like this one and like the fact that it has a bendable stacking stick to make it easier and safer to use.
Common 17 Month Old Sleep Problems
The most common sleep problems that your baby may encounter when establishing and maintaining a 17 month old sleep schedule are:
- Experiencing an early 18 month sleep regression.
- Early morning waking because they are more aware of the light and sounds that surround them, they are hungry and thirsty or because they went to bed earlier than normal.
- Restless settling because they are hyper before bed from the day’s activities or suffering from teething pain as their molars and canines begin to erupt.
- Fighting sleep because they’re overtired due to the increase in physical activity.
- Crying when away from you due to separation anxiety.
- They are fighting naps and sleep because they’re going through a nap transition.
- Nighttime wakings because they cannot self-settle back to sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions About A 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 17 month sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.
Is 9pm Too Late For Toddler Bedtime?
Yes, 9pm is too late for a toddler’s bedtime.
I would not recommend a bedtime of 9pm for a 17 month old.
Your toddler will not be able to have a healthy sleep schedule if they are going to bed at 9pm and you will not be able to have a child-free evening which helps you relax and reset for the next day.
Is There A Sleep Regression Around 17 Months?
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 17 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:
Why Is My 17 Month Old Waking Up Screaming?
There are few reasons why your 17 month old is waking up screaming:
- Pain from teething. Some toddlers may wake screaming from teething pain
- Illness. If your toddler is feeling extremely unwell they may wake screaming. For example, ear infections can cause enough pain to wake your little one.
- Nightmares. Some younger babies do suffer with nightmares and night terrors which cn cause them to become upset and wake up.
- Separation anxiety. Your toddler may not have woken up screaming, but upon discovering that you’re not with them… Your 17 month old may start screaming to get you to come to them and comfort them back to sleep.
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!
- Newborn Sleep Schedule
- 1 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 2 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 3 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 4 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 5 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 7 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 10 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 11 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 12 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 13 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 14 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 15 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 19 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 20 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 21 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 22 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 23 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule
- 30 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 3 Year Old Sleep Schedule
Need More Parenting Help?
- Download our FREE Perfect Sleep Cheat Sheet. It’s a free, easy-to-use and proven formula designed for parents of 0-5 year olds to master the art of consistently undisturbed and restful sleep without the yelling, nagging or exhausting long-winded evenings.
- Check out our Parenting Toolbox. You’ll get access to expertly-chosen products that you can guarantee are the best for your little one and your wallet.
- Ready to create the calm, peaceful evenings you deserve? Then checkout our most popular course - The Bedtime Battles Masterclass
A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
Click Here For The FREE Cheat Sheet
