fbpx

18-Month-Old Sleep Schedule for a Happy and Well-Rested Toddler in Manchester

A toddler raises her arms in delight, she is holding a pencil and has colourful bands around her wrist. A pink circle shows the title of the blog - Sleep schedule for an 18 month old

Having a consistent 18-month-old sleep schedule is essential for your toddler’s development and overall well-being.

At this stage, toddlers are exploring their world more actively, and their sleep needs are still evolving.

Establishing a solid sleep routine can be a game-changer for both parents and toddlers.

Whether you’re located in Manchester, London or any other region of the UK, this post will offer a realistic sample 18-month-old sleep schedule, along with tips on how to personalise it to fit your family’s needs.

Why is an 18-Month-Old Sleep Schedule Important?

As your toddler reaches 18 months, they are undergoing significant physical and cognitive development. The right amount of sleep helps them process what they are learning throughout the day, supports their immune system, and promotes overall growth. A consistent sleep routine not only ensures that your toddler gets enough rest but also provides a sense of security and structure in their daily life.

For UK families, where schedules can sometimes be influenced by the seasons, such as earlier nights during the winter months or longer summer evenings, having a flexible yet reliable sleep schedule is key to ensuring your toddler stays well-rested year-round.

Sample 18-Month-Old Sleep Schedule

Here’s a sample 18-month-old sleep schedule designed to offer a balanced day of activities and rest. While your toddler may have slightly different sleep needs, this schedule can serve as a useful starting point for you to customize.

  • 7:00 AM – Wake-Up Time: Start your day with a consistent wake-up time. This helps to regulate your toddler’s internal clock, promoting healthier sleep patterns. If your child naturally wakes up earlier or later, make adjustments accordingly, but aim to keep wake-up times similar every day.
  • 7:30 AM – Breakfast and Morning Playtime: Serve a nutritious breakfast that will keep your toddler energized. After eating, engage in some playtime or light activities. This sets the tone for the day and allows your toddler to feel physically active after sleeping.
  • 9:30 AM – Mid-Morning Snack: A snack around this time keeps your toddler’s energy levels up and helps prevent crankiness before lunch. Opt for healthy snacks like fruit, whole-grain crackers, or yogurt.
  • 12:00 PM – Lunch: A balanced, nutritious lunch is key to keeping your toddler satisfied until their nap. Consider providing lean proteins, vegetables, and whole grains to give your toddler a well-rounded meal.
  • 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Nap Window: Nap time is crucial for your 18-month-old’s rest and development. This is typically when toddlers take their nap. Not all toddlers will be able to (or need to) nap for 2 hours, somewhere between 60 and 120 minutes would be typical. Keep the room dark, quiet, and cool to help your toddler fall asleep more easily. This nap helps them recharge and be ready for the afternoon.
  • 3:00 PM – Afternoon Snack and Playtime: After waking from their nap, offer another healthy snack and engage in more active or creative play. This period is great for your toddler to burn off energy or learn new skills with you.
  • 5:30 PM – Dinner: Serve a well-balanced dinner to fuel your toddler for the evening. By this time, your toddler may be starting to wind down, so consider serving a lighter meal that’s easy to digest.
  • 6:00 PM – Bath and Silly Time: toddlers will sometimes get a ‘second wind’ after dinner, now is the time to get rid of the day’s excess energy with a bath and some silly time. 
  • 6:45 PM – Wind down time. After the fun of silly time, now’s the time to take the tempo down. Do some calming play to signal sleep time is coming. This routine helps them associate these activities with rest and prepares their body and mind for sleep.
  • 8:00 PM – Bedtime: Aim to have your toddler in bed at a consistent time each night, give or take 30 minutes. The timing may vary depending on your toddler’s individual needs, and what time they wake from their nap. The average 18-month-old needs around 10 hours of sleep overnight, so a 7pm bedtime won’t always work (unless you’re OK with getting up at 5am!). It’s OK for it to be later, test out what works for your toddler. 

Tips for Customising the 18-Month-Old Sleep Schedule

Not every toddler will follow the same sleep pattern, and that’s perfectly normal. However, there are ways to customise the schedule to fit your family’s needs.

  • Adjust Nap Times: At 18 months, some toddlers may need one nap, while others may still need two shorter naps. Watch for signs of sleepiness (rubbing eyes, yawning) and adjust nap times accordingly. If your toddler is resisting nap time or staying awake too long after a nap, you may want to shorten or delay the nap period.
  • Keep Meals and Snacks Consistent: Toddler routines thrive on consistency. Try to serve meals and snacks at the same time each day. This helps regulate their body’s internal clock and can even improve their mood.
  • Incorporate Calming Activities: Consider adding calming rituals to your toddler’s bedtime routine. This could include reading a story, listening to soft music, or using a white noise machine to help them fall asleep.
  • Be Flexible With Bed Time: While it’s great to have a consistent routine, you may need to adjust it slightly depending on the season or any changes in your toddler’s routine. For instance, if you are travelling, it might be more challenging to stick to your usual nap times, so give yourself some flexibility while maintaining consistency in the rest of the schedule.

Benefits of a Consistent 18-Month-Old Sleep Schedule

Maintaining a consistent 18-month-old sleep schedule is essential not just for your toddler’s physical health, but also their emotional and behavioral well-being. Here are some of the top benefits:

  • Improved Mood and Behaviour: Adequate sleep helps regulate your toddler’s emotions, making them less likely to get cranky, irritable, or overactive.
  • Better Physical and Cognitive Development: Sleep plays a pivotal role in the brain’s growth, which is essential at this stage of development. The proper rest also aids memory, learning, and problem-solving skills.
  • Easier Transitions: A predictable schedule helps your toddler feel more secure. Transitions throughout the day—whether it’s moving from playtime to nap time, or from lunch to quiet time—become easier when they know what to expect.
  • Support for Parents: Having a routine also benefits parents. You’ll likely feel more confident in your toddler’s sleep needs, and it can reduce stress in the household by nurturing a calmer atmosphere.

Troubleshooting and Adjustments

While most toddlers benefit from a consistent schedule, there are times when adjustments are necessary. For example, if your toddler is resisting naps, you might try adjusting nap times by a little bit each day until you find what works. If they wake up earlier or later than expected, try adjusting their bedtime slightly to see if it helps.

It’s also important to remember that sleep disruptions can occur during developmental milestones, teething, or illness. If you’re struggling with sleep issues, be patient and gentle with your toddler, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a toddler sleep expert like Jemma.

Bonus: Join Our Free Webinar on Toddler Sleep

Want to learn more about toddler sleep? Sign up for our free sleep red flags webinar, where we dive into common health issues affecting toddler sleep, as well as strategies to help your little one get the rest they need. Reserve your spot today! Click here to sign up.

Additional Resources:

  • The BBC has some helpful videos to support your child’s development.
  • For more information on how much sleep toddlers need, visit the Sleep Foundation to access expert advice.
  • Learn about child development at NHS Start for Life 

By maintaining a consistent 18-month-old sleep schedule, you’ll help your toddler grow, develop, and thrive. For personalised sleep support, reach out to Jem here at Blissed Out Babies, where we help tired toddler parents create customised sleep routines that work for them.

With a clear plan and dedication, your toddler will be well-rested, happy, and ready to take on each new day!

Hi, I'm Jem

I have always been interested in gentle parenting techniques, and as a self confessed ‘geek’ I spent many a sleepless night reading. I became so interested in infant brain development and the science of sleep that I completed my Holistic Sleep Coaching qualification, mentored by the wonderful Lyndsey Hookway. I have been working as a toddler sleep consultant since 2018, I am based in Manchester but I can work with you from anywhere in the world online!

This coupled with my experience in settling techniques, toddler negotiation strategies and analysis of naps and sleep needs gives me a wealth of knowledge to be able help you. 

If you’re looking for help with making changes to your family’s sleeping habits and would like to speak to a toddler sleep consultant who is down to earth and sympathetic and will focus on you and your family with empathy and understanding then please get in touch.

I would love to hear from you!

Jem x

Book a FREE Discovery Call To Hear How I Can Help
photo of Jemma Munford sat in a brown armchair

Where to next?

Click here to book a free chat with Jem to discuss sleep packages and ensure we are a good fit. There is no obligation and I will only take clients where I genuinely feel I can change their lives.

I have three simple toddler sleep support packages, Read more about them here.

Yes! You can check out my free sleep resources here.

Perfect, in my book The Better Sleep Blueprint I share all my best guides and strategies for sleep up to 2 years of age. Check it out here.

You can also read more of my blogs here.