Sleep Schedule for 1–2 Years
The defining sleep event of toddlerhood is the 2-to-1 nap transition — usually between 13 and 18 months. Get the timing right and you unlock the golden one-nap schedule that can last for years. Get it wrong (usually too early) and you get weeks of overtired chaos. Here's how the day should look.
Wake windows
3–5.5 hrs
Naps
1
Day sleep
~2 hrs
Night sleep
~11 hrs
Bedtime
7:00 PM–8:30 PM
Sample day (7:00 AM wake-up)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Wake Up |
| 10:36 AM | Nap 1 Start — Duration: ~120 minutes |
| 12:36 PM | Nap 1 End |
| 7:00 PM | Bedtime — Start bedtime routine 20 minutes before this time |
Transitioning from 2 naps to 1 nap usually happens 12-18 months. Get times matched to your child's actual wake-up with the wake windows calculator.
The one-nap day
A settled one-nap schedule typically looks like: wake 6:30-7:30 AM, lunch around 11:30, nap 12:00-2:00 PM, bedtime 7:00-8:00 PM. Wake windows run about 5-5.5 hours on each side of the nap. Moving lunch earlier is the secret weapon that makes the midday nap work during the transition.
Signs it's time to drop to one nap
Consistently fighting the second nap for 1-2+ weeks, the morning nap pushing the afternoon nap too late, or bedtime drifting past 8:30 PM. One-off refusals during teething or a regression are fake-outs — wait for a consistent pattern before committing. If daycare forces the change early, protect an extra-early bedtime at home.
New skills, new stalling
Walking, first words, and budding independence all show up in the crib: bedtime protest, standing and calling out, and the first "one more" negotiations. A predictable, connection-rich routine with clear, kind limits works better than novelty. Keep the routine the same order every night — toddlers find repetition genuinely soothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do toddlers go from 2 naps to 1?
Most between 13 and 18 months, with 14-16 months the sweet spot. Before 12 months is almost always too early — apparent nap-dropping at that age is usually a regression or schedule problem in disguise.
How long should a 1-year-old nap?
On a one-nap schedule, 1.5-2.5 hours is typical (2 hours is a good target). During the 2-nap phase, roughly 2-3 total daytime hours split across morning and afternoon naps.
What time should a toddler go to bed?
Between 7:00 and 8:30 PM for most 1-2 year olds, roughly 4.5-5.5 hours after the nap ends. During the nap transition, bedtimes as early as 6:00-6:30 PM are a healthy temporary tool.
My 18-month-old suddenly fights bedtime. Is this a regression?
Very likely — the 18-month regression is driven by independence, separation feelings, and language bursts. Hold your routine steady and it typically passes in 2-4 weeks. If bedtime is before 7 PM or after 8:45 PM, adjusting the schedule often helps too.
General behavioral sleep information for healthy children — not medical advice. For infants, always follow safe-sleep guidance (alone, on the back, in a bare crib), and talk to your pediatrician about any health concerns.
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