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Expert Reviewed By - Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby onto a regular 18 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make maintaining it as easy as possible.
How Much Should An 18 Month Old Sleep?
Your average 18 month old will need between 11 and 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. This will consist of 10-12 hours taken at night and the rest taken over 1 to 2 daytime naps.
Sample 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
18 months is a special milestone age and by now your little one will easily 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 18 month old consistent 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 18 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 18 Month Old
By 18 months old, your child will mainly have 1 nap a day but may have 2 naps on very busy days.
To help you schedule a day for your 18 month old, here are two handy quick references for an 18 month old nap schedule regardless of whether they have 1 or 2 daytime naps:
1 Nap Schedule For 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
2 Nap Schedule For 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
How Long Should An 18 Month Old Nap?
Your 18 month old should be napping for around 2 to 3 hours a day.
Is 18 Months Too Early For One Nap?
No, 18 months is not too early for one nap.
In fact, most 18 month olds will have 1 nap per day.
However, on busy days, your toddler may need to have a morning nap to prevent overtiredness later in the day.
Having quiet time in the morning is the ideal way for your toddler to relax and nap if they need it.
How Many Naps Should An 18 Month Old Take?
Your 18 month old will take between 1 and 2 naps a day depending on how busy their day has been.
Bedtime For 18 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 an 18 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 18 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 An 18 Month Old Go To Bed?
For an 18 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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18 Month Old Sleep Regression
18 months is a very common age for a sleep regression to occur due to developmental factors such as:
- Newfound independence
- Separation anxiety
- Changes in sleep rhythms
- Teething
- Illness,
Therefore, your toddler may start to resist sleep, wake more frequently at night and struggle to resettle.
For helpful information to manage sleep regressions at this age, read my blog 18 month sleep regression to learn how.
18 Month Old Sleep Tips
Establishing and maintaining an 18 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 an 18 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 18 month old sleep schedule.
- Try to avoid overtiredness. As your toddler 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 daytime sleep, quiet play times and a regular bedtime as a part of their 18 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, or 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, a 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 18 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 18 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 the importance of 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.
- 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 not to 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.
- Lower the energy at the end of the day. By 18 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.
- Watch for signs of nap transition. This is an age when your little one may start to transition from 2 naps to 1. Watch for sleep cues to make sure you get the timing of naps right.
TOP TIP: If your little one is continually resisting nap time… try lengthening the wake window between naps before dropping the morning 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.
Common 18 Month Old Sleep Problems
The most common sleep problems that your baby may encounter when establishing and maintaining an 18 month old sleep schedule are:
- Experiencing an 18 month sleep regression.
- Early morning waking because they are more aware of the light and sounds that surround them or because they went to bed early.
- 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 increased physical activity
- Crying when away from you due to separation anxiety.
- They are fighting naps and sleep due to a nap transition.
- Nighttime wakings because they are thirsty or hungry or unable self-settle back to sleep.
TOP TIP: To help with early morning waking try a toddler alarm clock like this one to help your toddler know when it is time to get up and when they should stay in bed.
MELLA is the #1 most backed kid's clock and all-in-one Ready to Rise children's sleep trainer designed to keep your kid in bed longer. MELLA is a sleep trainer, alarm clock, sleep sounds machine, night light and nap timer rolled into one adorable package!
Studies show that children do not fully understand the concept of time until around 8 years old, so MELLA uses colours and facial expressions to teach your kid when it's time for bed and when it's okay to wake up. With MELLA, your kid can learn to stay in bed longer, giving you more sleep!
Frequently Asked Questions About An 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 18 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 an 18 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 a 3 Hour Nap Too Long For An 18 Month Old?
No, the occasion 3 hour nap is ok for 18 month olds.
Many 18 month olds will be in the process of transitioning down to 1 long nap per day, therefore most naps will last for 2 hours but some naps will stretch to 3 hours long.
TOP TIP: It is important not to let your little one sleep after 3pm in the afternoon when aiming for a 7pm bedtime… Therefore, you may need to adjust the time you put your toddler down for their daytime nap depending on how long they need to sleep.
How Do I Get My Toddler To Sleep To 7am?
Early morning waking is a common issue for parents of toddlers but there are some things you can do to help your toddler wake up a little later.
Some of the following tips may help.
- Install black-out blinds to stop morning light from waking your baby earlier than you’d like.
- Push bedtime back by 10-15 minutes so your little one wakes up 10-15 minutes later.
- Adjust daytime sleep to find the balance between naps and nighttime sleep.
- Provide toys or books for your toddler to play with when they wake up.
- Encourage your little one to enjoy quiet times in their crib during the day so they don’t want to get out of bed as soon as they wake.
At What Age Do Toddlers Stop Napping?
The age at which toddlers stop napping varies from child to child.
Most toddlers will completely drop their daytime nap somewhere between the ages of 3 and 4.
For more information on when toddlers stop napping and how to manage the transitions, read my post When Do Toddlers Stop Napping.
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
