Do you have an energetic and super cute 18 (ish) month old? Here’s an awesome sample 18 month schedule or routine for toddlers.
Sample Routines:
- Newborn Sample Routine
- Sample 6 Month Schedule
- 9 to 12 Month Sample Schedule
- 18 Month Sample Schedule
- 2 Year Old Sample Schedule
- Ultimate Newborn Sleep Schedule: Week by Week
My newborn and 4 children under 4 schedules were a huge hit (and you may want to read my summer schedule for kids) so here’s an 18 month old sample schedule.
I have a dear friend who is far more laid back than myself, and she told me even she likes to look at schedules though she doesn’t really keep one!
Ha.
Love the honesty and self-awareness!
Read: Is Your 1-Year-Old Wearing You Out? Try These Simple Activities
But honestly, I see the appeal. It’s good to know how others fill their day and what their kids get up to.
When you’re home all day with kids it can feel isolating and you begin to wonder if you’re the only one who spends 20 minutes making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or picking up hundreds of elastic bands because your daughter tried to rainbow loom even though she (nor you) know how to do that.
Read: The Tried-And-True 1 Year Old Sleep Schedule
Sample 18 month routine
So here’s the basic routine I’ve had all my kids on. As soon as they dropped their morning nap, around 18 months, they all followed a similar schedule to this until they were 2 years old and even higher.
Some babies drop naps a lot earlier than 18 months and some will continue to have two naps. In my experience, I think that 18-month-olds can generally go with one nap, but still need a bit more sleep than their older siblings.
Read: When Babies Go To One Nap (A Step By Step Guide)
Get your toddler to follow their own routine without nagging by using these printable routine cards.
7:30 – 7:45 am – wake up + breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 am – free play, outside time
9:30 – 10:30 am – structured play, activity, more purposeful time
10:30 – 11:15-11:30 am – independent play time with age appropriate toys (why it’s important kids play on their own)
11:30 am – 12:15 pm – outside time, free play
12:15 pm – lunch
1:00 pm – nap
3:30 – 4:00 pm – wake up from nap and have a snack
4:00 – 5:30 pm – free play, screen time (for older siblings), outside time
5:30 – 6:00 pm – dinner
6:00 – 6:45 pm – bath, get on pajamas, wind down
6:45 – 7:00 pm – read books, pray, sing
7:00 pm – bed
An important thing to point out here, before we go any further, is that appropriate times can account for a lot. They can account for over-tiredness and even bedtime battles.
Having an age appropriate routines makes all the difference.
Read: 5 Truths About Parenting Toddlers — That We Tend To Forget
Structured Time
I use this term loosely to mean that I engage with the kids on purpose. Sometimes we do any type of preschool curriculum and other times we color or play with play dough.
It could be as simple as lining up pillows and running across them or a specific craft. I don’t take on any pressure or guilt about this, but try to engage them in things at their level they find enjoyable.
Read: Why Kids Need Independent Play Times Daily
Outside Time
We live on acreage now so we decided to build a fairly large enclosed area where the kids could play without me worrying they were going to fall into the pond or pool or walk onto the road.
Often outside time consists of all the kids playing outdoors together while I am inside working or doing something else.
Read: The Crucial Elements of a Rock-Solid Toddler Schedule
Maybe we’ll play red rover, go water all the trees and plants in the garden, or feed the fish in the pond. I like for them to be outside as much as possible for as long as possible.
We have a lot of toys like this that can take a beating and, when used up, thrown away. See tips for toddlers outside.
Screen Time
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics… 18 months old don’t really need any screen time. With my oldest we never did, the younger kids in our family often filter in and out of the room while the TV is on so that’s what I’m going by.
In my 4 under 4 schedule you’ll note we used to watch TV first thing in the morning when I was in late pregnancy and when I had a newborn.
It wasn’t ideal, but it was what I needed to happen to cope and that’s fine. Now, with my youngest just turned 3 months, I’ve shifted TV time to after the nap.
This is screen time + learning.
Read: A Foolproof Sample Daily Schedule For Toddlers
18-month-olds are fun but they’re also a lot of work. Here is a recap:
- Choose a routine that you can maintain every day. One that isn’t too strict nor too lose that the days feel chaotic.
- Teach your child to follow their own routine. I do this by using printable routine cards as shown here.
- Be consistent, but flexible. Things like sicknesses and appointments will happen so anticipate them.
The Key to a Good Routine
This may be so simple it goes without saying… but the key to a good routine is keeping the routine. It can be tricky to remember everything in order when you’re beginning, but once you get the hang of it, routine will be second nature.
It can seem very difficult to get started doing or keeping a routine when you do not have one at all. Here are some ways you can learn to keep your routine.
Hang the routine up!
If need visual help remembering the routine and want to teach your toddler to follow the routine at the same time (so you don’t have to nag) I recommend using our routine cards (seen below) or something similar you can whip up at home.
You hang them up in the appropriate room (bedroom for morning routine, bathroom for bath routine, kitchen fridge for mealtime routine, etc.) and then use them to help your child learn independence and self-regulation.
(Visual routine cards to help your toddler learn to know what’s next)
Set alarms or reminders on your phone
While you don’t need to live and die by the clock, setting your phone, watch, or a timer will help you keep aware of routine transitions.
We can often get so wrapped up in what we’re doing we forget and we’re an hour or two past nap time and now they’re having trouble going down.
I set alarms on my phone that show on my watch and this works for us.
Practice
As with anything, if you want something to work then work it. Keep pushing what you’ve decided to do. If it doesn’t work then change it up a bit and keep going. Move forward.
I assure you 100% that a routine will work if you keep at it.
Would you like a copy of this 18 month routine to print and use at home? Sign up here and I’ll send it via email.
Want Routine Printables to hang up?
We use these in our home and my Kindergartner even uses them to help herself get ready each morning. My son is looking forward to hanging his in his room as well.
These will help you point out what your child should do without always issuing commands and – you may be surprised – how much more cooperative your child becomes when they can see what’s next.
Get your own printable routine cards here!
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I’ve created a free email series just for you! If you struggle with creating an easy flowing routine or rhythm in your home… this is it. I’ve gathered all my easiest routine hacks into one free series and, best of all, you can get a big sneak peak into our book that has over 25+ routines for babies ages 6 weeks to 5 years. This series will help you:
- find a routine and rhythm for your child
- learn how to juggle multiple routines (for 2 or 3+ kids)
- know what is and isn’t working so you can make one tweak that’ll change your day
Click here to sign up for my free email series or simply click on the image below.
Rachel
New to this community? Start here, friend.
Olivia Bank says
I actually have an incredibly similar schedule to yours! A woman after my own heart! Just a question: do you find they are hungry for dinner if they have a snack after they get up from their naps? I find either mine eats a dinner portion for snack, and then wont eat dinner, or wont eat snack and does eat dinner. What do you think I should do? Also, what kind of portions do you expect the kids to eat at this age? Thanks so much!
Rachel Norman says
Olivia, you are so right on about the snack. I try not to give them anything but a small snack because sometimes he wakes up at 4:30 and we eat dinner at like 5 or 5:30 anyway!! As far as servings, I try to plate little so I’m not angry. Ha. Then if he wants more, I’ll give him more!
Sheliza says
Oh my goodness, am I glad I found you on Pinterest! We are sleep training our 16 month old and let’s just say that the brain isn’t as sharp as it once was. I have been struggling with keeping a consistent routine going (because I am generally horrible at routines even though I try to convince myself that I love them) and very clearly failing. Yours just makes sense! Because my little guy is still taking two naps, I’m, combining your 6 month and 18 month schedule together. Here’s to hoping for routine success! Thank you, thank you!
Rachel Norman says
Woohoo!!! Good luck :)
Deborah says
Thanks for the post. I just got three foster children from the ages of 7 months (actually 4 months developmentally), 18 months and 5 years old. THen I have my four kids which are my daughter 10, Isaac is 13 and then 19 and 22 year olds. I am exhausted!! The 18 month old needs two naps a day I am pretty sure. She gets fussy about 10:00 am and starts sucking her two fingers. I dont know when to put her down for a second nap cause then I dont know if she will go down for bed. I just wish someone would come to my house and tell me what to do with these precious children and give me some energy. I signed up for your devotional. I think I am getting depressed and I already overwhelmed with not wanting to even leave the house this summer because of the hassle. Thanks for your prayers and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also… what do you pack for snack when you go some place that doesnt get crap all over your car? Having young kids is for young people!! I didnt realize that but I am 43 and starting over and I think I might lose my ever loving mind!!
Rachel Norman says
Deborah, first of all, what a woman you are for taking care of children who have no one else. God bless you and your family for that. Second, my van is a total nightmare and I just got done telling my mom I wanted to get it detailed after we had our trip to the beach (which will get it more dirty) so I don’t worry too much about the mess because I just can’t control it but still want them to have a snack if we’re going to be in the car a while. As for the napping, have you done my free e-course on sleep? And I agree, I think maybe putting the 18 month old down for a 30 or 45 minute nap around 9:30 or 10 and then again at 1:30 or 2 for a nap will get all the sleep in without messing up bedtime I think.
Tanya says
Hello, my son who is 18 months wakes up early at 6 in the morning and takes a nap by 10.30 or 11 to 1 or 1.30..
Will go to sleep in the night by 7.30
I want him p have an afternoon nap after lunch… Com I can’t take him to any playgroup of any where in the morning…
Donna whether to change or just leave it
Suggestions plz
Rachel Norman says
I’d start gradually moving that nap bakwards if I were you. So instead of at 10:30 for a few days I’d do 10:45 or 11. Then, after a week or so I’d move it back to 11:20 or so. Then, after a few days, I’d move it back to 12. etc. I’d do this until I got the nap to START around 1 so your days are more full and then he’s less tired at bedtime. Do you think that would work?
TIFFANY says
My 19 month old daughter was doing two naps a day until recently (10:00-12 and 3:00 for about 30 minutes) but now she’s only doing a morning nap. The problem is that by time bedtime comes around she is exhausted and very hard to handle. I want to move her nap to the afternoon but the problem is I do school pick up from 2-3 so I need her around awake in time to leave but not sleeping through lunch everyday too. What do you suggest
Rachel Norman says
What about giving her an early lunch at 11 then at 11:30 putting her down until 2?
lindsa says
Hi there, I recently found your blog and am really enjoying looking through it. Do you have anything for the 12-18 month stage as far as schedule/ sleep needs…specifically the 2 to 1 nap transition. My son (14.5 months) had been a solid STTN babe 11-12 hours but naps have always been super inconsistent. Now he’s very commonly taking 45 minutes to fall asleep to then sleep anywhere from 30 min- 1.5 hrs. Still trying to do 2 naps bc he just can’t seem to take 1 good nap, but we don’t ever have 2 good ones either. Early bedtimes have just become our new normal. I try to follow the 2-3-4 schedule but it’s more a 2.5-3.5-(depends on nap). He’s currently standing and being very silly in his crib. I put him down about 10 minutes ago after 2.5 hrs of awake time. SORRY THIS IS LONG AND WORDY
Rachel Norman says
Have you tried a 30 minute nap in the morning, then wake him up, then put him down for a full one in the afternoon?
lindsay says
I have not. I guess I should try that. It’s so scary to wake him up because more sleep later is never a guarantee with this kid!! Thanks for responding!
Wigdan says
I have been struggling in trying to let my baby sleep early at 7-7:30 pm . If he sleeps that early he wakes up every time around 2 pm very alert and it’s a struggle to get him back to sleep (usually after a snack and some water and some playtime on bed). And then next day he wakes up at 8-9 pm .
He only sleeps through the night if I delayed his sleep to between 9-9:30 and sometimes 10 😱.He seems fine with it and he is a very very active boy. His naps are between 1:00 pm to 3:30-4:00 pm .
How can I organize his sleep and get him to sleep early while sleeping through the night .
Thank you
Rachel Norman says
Is his current schedule okay for everyone? I wouldn’t say you *had* to change it if it isn’t bothering you?
Sami says
My 18 month has a very similar schedule but he’s been waking up at 5am in the past few weeks. Any suggestions to encourage him to late in til 6am or 7am?
Rachel Norman says
Sami, I have a whole post on this, google ‘sleeping in later a mother far from home’ :)
darlene says
Hi, both of my toddlers, 1.5 yr old and 2.5 yr old, go to bed around 9 pm and wake up at 9 am. The younger is giving me trouble lately and wakes up around 11:30 upset and crying…I’m chalking it up to nighttime weaning, although she was fine with it last week. Now it’s taking my husband and me 2 hours to get her back to sleep. She’s in her crib, but in our room. Any other ideas?
Rachel Norman says
Teething or ear aches? ALL MINE acted crazy when teething or with ear aches!
Dana says
I need help desperately I have 3 children 10, 4 and 19 mos and need to implement some sort of routine for them all asap – I’m losing my mind!
Rachel Norman says
Dana, have you done my free routine course? It’ll totally help!
Carol says
Hi! I always come to your blog to check routines and get advice! Haha! Any advice for the 18 month old sleep regression? My daughter who slept through the night (19:30-7) and took one long afternoon nap (usually 2 or 2:30 hours) is suddenly having all sorts of problems to sleep. Night wakings, early morning waking, nap time battles, wants me in the room to fall asleep, etc. Did you ever go through that? Please tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! Haha! She had a similar schedule to yours. Thank you!
Rachel Norman says
Hmm, when that happened to me I always had an ear infection or some type of sickness. OR they are starving! Could it be those? I’d truly rule those out first. Oh that and upset tummy. I had one with food allergies as well which affected him until we found out. Hope that helps.
tina says
Hi – at my wits end right now!! My toddler sch is crazy … she is 17 months old. This started helping about 2 weeks ago. and she has started sleeping REALLY late around 11pm now 12-30pm… I don’t know what to do. Her sch is as follows:
Up at 7:40 -8am – get ready go to daycare by 8:15pm
8:15 – Breakfast at daycare
9:00-11am – On day care schedule they have a pretty good one.
12- lunch
12:30 – Nap – now only for 1 hour (usually its 2 hours)
5pm – Home time
5:30-bottle tv time relax…
6pm – Falls asleep? when we don’t want her too.. haha.
Up at 7pm or 8:30 – Wide awake..
8:30 – Dinner time I know its late!!
9pm – Bath time
10pm – try to get her to bed… and its crazy she is hyper
12:30 – finally down for the night
ANY advice please let me know!
Rachel Norman says
Tina, can you change her schedule so that she naps at 1 and then goes to bed at 7 or 8? I mean can you just set the routine and make it happen. Will she fight it? If so, whta does her “fighting” it mean?
Christina says
My 18 month old naps from 11 to 1. Then at 5 she’s super cranky and tired. I used to let her sleep for an hour and he would go to bed at 10 pm. Tonight she went to bed at 6:30 pm after a 2 hour nap at 11, and she woke up at 8 pm and now is wide awake probably till 11 pm. I can’t win.
Rachel Norman says
Christina, I’d probably try to move that nap back to around 1. I think 11 is a tricky time because it means that they wake up and have a LONG time to go until bed!
Mayra says
My daughter is already 18 month old and she usually took 2 naps, sleep well through the night around 10 hours and now She is in process to get just 1 nap. She used to have 1 nap for 1 hour in the morning and other hour in the afternoon but when I started a week ago to move the morning’s nap at 12pm and anymore nap in the afternoon she couldn’t sleep 2 hours in a row, she just sleeps 1 hour so I don’t know what i have to do to make her sleep between 2 or 3 hours of nap. Thank you for your time and congratulations for your blog, it makes me very helpful.
Whitney says
Hi, I have a 20 month old boy. We follow a similar schedule. Just wondering what is the difference between free play and independent play? He’s by himself so he has no one to interact with but me. It makes independent play time difficult. We’ve only gotten to about 8 minutes! But sometimes when I take him outside he will stay occupied without me for 30 minutes. Would I consider that free or independent play?
Billy Bones says
I wonder if people who write these articles have any real life experience. What 18 year old baby sleeps 12.5 hours at night after sleeping 2-2.5 hours in the daytime? 10 hours a night after 90 minute daytime nap is what is more real
Rachel Norman says
It is very real for you, Billy. What I wrote is very real for me!
Danielle says
I’m going to try this. My sons sleeping schedule is so out of whack and it’s making me so exhausted that I have been so unsuccessful at getting it back on track. I don’t know how or where it went wrong but he normally refuses to sleep anywhere from 2am-4am. He will sleep until 12:30 and then will nap at 4:30-5pm wakes up. Eats dinner and gets his bath and I try to put him down to bed every night at around 8:30 and it’s just not happening. If I do happen to get him to bed at 8:30 he will wake up anywhere from 10:30-midnight and stay up until 3-4am. I’m at a total loss. Not even sure how this happened. One day he just decided he didn’t want to sleep and fought me every step of the way.
Chelsea says
Hello, my 21 month old has been sleep trained since the beginning and sleeping through the night since she was 2 months old. We have bee have a struggle with her falling asleep at night recently and not sure on what to do. She has been taking anywhere from a half hour to upwards of an hour and half to fall asleep sometimes. It’s more on the upwards when she has had a busy day. I have pushed her nap to later and even her bedtime to later to try to figure it out but I am just not sure what to do anymore. This is her current schedule. Any suggestions?
7:00-7:15am wake up
7:45am breakfast
12:30pm naptime
2:00pm I have to wake her up from nap no later than 2pm because if she sleeps later than she won’t fall asleep at night but I guess I’m having that issue anyway?
5:00-5:30pm dinner
6:30pm bathtime, pjs, book, song
7:15pm bedtime
Please help!
Brittany Christensen says
Where is your sample 12-18 month schedule? You’ve covered every other age range so I’m curious why 12-18 month isn’t covered feed because I’d like to see how you transition from the morning nap time to that hour being independent play time.
Kathleen says
What do you do when they wake up early from nap time? All of the sudden my 18 month old will not nap for longer than an hour or so but is cranky by 5. Should I start leaving her in there for the allotted nap time and she’ll learn she should nap longer?
Tiffany says
My son is 18m and our schedule looks more like 7am wake time 12(sometimes 12:30) nap till 2(2:30. Then bed around 7:30 or 8. Lately he has been pushing it till 8:30
I have found it’s unrealistic to expect him to sleep a full 12 hours at this age.
I would still like to keep a 7 am wake time but my question is, if bedtime keeps getting pushed later and later should I cut down nap time during the day ?
I should also mention that we don’t have any wakes during the night. I am over the moon about this because we both get our sleep but that also means that I usually go to bed shortly after he does leaving no more free time in the evening like I had with a 7pm bedtime.
Chelsea Hyatt says
Hi, I wish our nap lasted 3 hours!!! But it lasts 1. Any advice? Also when do you do other things… you know like grocery store, gas, errands, laundry etc?
Irais says
I just cannot really keep a schedule Benatar I have so n many chores to do each day. How do I make food, go grocery shopping, help the other kids with homework, do laundry, clean, deal with the other kids messes and behaviors while keeping a schedule?
Emma says
Hello! I look forward to using these routine cards with my 18-month old, as her father and I are working from home for the foreseeable future and hope to create a predictable and developmentally appropriate routine for her.
I was disappointed to see there is no “outside time” routine card after purchasing (it would be helpful to create a card that is separate from “play”). Would you be willing to add it as a separate download?
Thank you for these wonderful resources!
Rachel Norman says
Oh that’s a great one! Did you get the editable version so you can add one of those yourself? When we do our next revisions I’ll totally add this as we are huge outdoorsy people here. WE live in the sticks!
M Weinberg says
I am hoping you can help me! I’ve read through all the comments but couldn’t find my answer. My son is 17 months old and sleeps through the night. He naps every day right about 1pm. His naps last anywhere from 1.5-4 hours (4 not being ideal). His bedtime is 8-8:30 but recently he isn’t falling asleep until 11:00pm (which is too late for us). He wakes up every morning around 5:30-6am for a little but falls back asleep until 8-9:00am. Should I be waking him up earlier in the morning and limiting his nap to 2 hours max as I cannot have him up until 11:00pm. We do have a nighttime routine but also have older children (12 yo) so he always wants to be with them (they go to bed at 9:00). My question is, should I wake him in the morning, and limit his nap, to keep him on schedule? It just feels so counterintuitive to wake a sleeping baby. Please help!
Rachel Norman says
Hi there! Yes, choose a wake up time and keep it. Don’t let him go past that, say 7 a.m. Then cap his nap at about 3 hours and put him down for bed at that 8:30 mark and see if it helps. If he keeps making up for the sleep he misses from 8 to 11 by taking long morning naps it’ll keep going in that cycle!~