What is a good sleep schedule for an 18 month old?
Between 15 and 23 months most toddlers settle on one midday nap of 1.5–3 hours. As a rule of thumb, wake windows are about 4.5–5.5 hours just after the switch and 5–6 hours from 18 months. The AASM recommends 11–14 hours of sleep in 24, and bedtime usually falls between 7 and 8 p.m.
What is typical from 15 to 23 months
| Measure | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Total sleep per 24 hours | 11–14 hours (AASM, ages 1–2 years) |
| What studies of healthy babies found | 1–2 year olds averaged 12.6 hours, 1.2 naps a day and 0.7 night wakings (Galland 2012); naps averaged about 2.3 hours among nappers (Staton 2020) |
| Night sleep (common practice range) | 11–12 hours |
| Naps (common practice range) | 1, lasting 1.5–3 hours, starting around midday |
| Wake windows (rule of thumb, not a research finding) | 4.5–5.5 hours just after the transition; 5–6 hours from about 18 months |
| Night feeds | Most toddlers have none. Whether to keep, reduce or drop night feeds is your pediatrician’s decision. |
Rows marked AASM are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendation, which the AAP supports. Rows marked Galland 2012 come from a systematic review of observational studies. The other rows are common practice ranges, not research findings. They describe an average baby; healthy babies sit on both sides of every one of them.
The one-nap schedule is easy to write down. Getting a toddler through the switch, and then to bed without an hour of negotiation, is the hard part. Actually Sleeping works with babies and toddlers from newborn on, with a plan Dr. Sam writes for your child, firm and kind limits explained in words they understand, and daily 1:1 check-ins. It is not cry it out and not wait it out.
What is changing developmentally
The 2-to-1 nap transition, which a large review places mostly between 12 and 18 months. A language burst, and with it the word “no.” A strong drive for independence alongside separation anxiety, which the AAP says usually peaks between 10 and 18 months and fades during the last half of the second year. First molars (about 13–19 months) and canines (about 16–23 months) come through in this window.
Why the average toddler schedule often does not fit
- A messy nap transition: some days need two naps and some one. See nap transitions.
- Bedtime battles and night waking around 18 months: see the 18-month sleep regression.
- Short single nap: see short naps.
- Early waking: see early morning waking.
Toddlers test whether rules hold. A schedule without a consistent response behind it rarely survives that test.
Safe sleep at this age
- Keep the mattress at its lowest setting. The AAP says it may be time for a bed once your toddler can climb out, and to put the crib mattress on the floor until a bed is ready.
- Move out of the crib at 35 inches (89 cm) tall (AAP, MedlinePlus).
Is this age right for sleep training?
Yes. It is not too late. What changes is that toddlers negotiate, so the plan needs limits your child can understand and every caregiver can hold. Actually Sleeping has 129 client video reviews and a Feefo rating of 5.0 from 73 verified reviews in the past year, and the plan comes with the written guarantee: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents of toddlers describe their results on our 12 months and up reviews. See the best age to sleep train, and book a free consultation with Dr. Sam.
Want this fixed for your baby?
Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.
Frequently asked
When should my toddler drop to one nap?
A large review found two-nap days drop sharply between 12 and 18 months, and fewer than 2.5% of children stop napping altogether before age 2. The right moment for your toddler depends on how they cope, which Dr. Sam judges with you.
How long should an 18 month old nap?
In studies, naps among 1 to 2 year olds averaged about 2.3 hours. A common practice range is 1.5–3 hours in a single nap. How the nap fits your toddler’s bedtime is set in their plan.
What time should an 18 month old go to bed?
As a common rule of thumb, between 7 and 8 p.m., and earlier during the nap transition. The right time depends on your toddler’s nap and how bedtime goes, so a Actually Sleeping plan sets it for them.
How long does the 18-month sleep regression last?
There is no research-defined length. Toddlers test limits, and inconsistent responses tend to stretch it out. Helping every caregiver respond the same way is the core of a Actually Sleeping plan.
References
- Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785–786.
- Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med Rev. 2012;16(3):213–222.
- Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0-12 years. Sleep Med Rev. 2020.
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Emotional and Social Development: 8 to 12 Months.
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Primary Tooth Development chart.
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Big Kid Beds: When to Switch From a Crib.
- MedlinePlus (NIH). Cribs and crib safety.