If you’re a new parent, you may be a little too tired to believe it, but your baby really will get bigger and change in the blink of an eye.
Your child’s sleep needs will change in the same way, so his schedule will need to be altered frequently. I guide parents through this and provide sample sleep schedules, based on sleep average recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Sleep Foundation.
Keep in mind, however, that your child’s optimal schedule may be slightly different. In fact, your child’s sleep needs may vary as much as an hour from the range given. Watch your child for his sleep cues, and keep an eye on the clock as well, so you can determine where you child falls within the average.
[See: How to Promote Safe Sleep for Your Infant.]
Your 6- to 9-Month-Old’s Sleep Schedule
As your child becomes more mobile during this time, she will begin to roll over, sit up, crawl and maybe even stand while holding onto something sturdy. This is also the time that teeth continue to poke through, causing a few tears and nighttime wakings for some. Your baby will take two to three naps and will likely be largely sleeping through the night at this stage with perhaps one feeding during the night.
Here’s a sample sleep schedule for this age range:
— 7 to 7:30 a.m. Wake-up
— 9 to 9:30 a.m. Morning nap, 1.5 to 2 hours
— 12:30 or 1 p.m. Afternoon nap, 1.5 to 2 hours
— 3:30 to 4 p.m. (The timing depends on the child’s previous nap time.) Start optional third nap of about 45 minutes to an hour.
— 6 to 6:30 p.m. Start bedtime preparations, which may include an additional bottle or nursing.
— 7 to 7:30 p.m. Bedtime
Your 9- to 12-Month-Old’s Sleep Schedule
A healthy 9- to 12-month-old will seem to reach new developmental milestones every day! It really is a fun age, because they are moving around with more ease and pulling up in the crib. But, less enjoyably, they’re also able to pop up in the crib when you put them down for sleep.
Reaching milestones, like learning to walk, can cause some sleep disruption naturally. Because of the increase in activity, your baby may also become tired more quickly. So watch her carefully for her sleepy cues; and don’t miss her sleep window — the timeframe when a child is most ready and able to fall asleep.
Since your child is growing stronger and more alert, she may try to fight sleep and possibly hide her sleep cues. At this stage, she will take two naps a day.
Here’s a sample sleep schedule for a child of this age:
— 7 to 7:30 a.m. Wake-up
— 9 to 9:30 a.m. Start the morning nap. If your child is sleeping 11 to 12 hours uninterrupted at night, she might be able to stay awake until 10 a.m. (or three hours after waking up).
— 1 to 2 p.m. Start the afternoon nap.
— 7 to 7:30 p.m. Bedtime
[Read: Help Your Child Nap Well at Any Age.]
Your 13- to 18-Month-Old’s Sleep Schedule
Toddlers at the younger end of this age bracket will take two naps (morning and afternoon) and move to one afternoon nap between 15 and 18 months.
It’s common for toddlers to begin testing the limits of their parents at this age, and temper tantrums are possible. This may include battles at bedtime. So begin working on a soothing bedtime routine to keep the evenings more predictable and calm.
Here’s a sample sleep schedule for this age:
7 to 7:30 a.m. Wake-up
9 to 9:30 a.m. Start one-hour morning nap if your toddler is still taking one.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Start afternoon nap. This should be about an hour and a half if it’s a second nap, or about two to two and a half hours if it’s the only nap of the day.
6 to 6:30 p.m. Start bedtime routine.
7 to 8 p.m. Asleep
Your 18 Month to 2 1/2-Year-Old’s Sleep Schedule
Your child will thrive with a consistent daytime and bedtime routine, even though he may push back against it. His one afternoon nap is essential for healthy development. So you want to prioritize that in the day’s routine.
Dealing with their burgeoning curiosity and boundary-pushing may challenge you at bedtime after a day of lots of fun. Many toddlers want to climb out of their crib at this age or try to drop their daily nap.
Here’s a sample sleep schedule:
— 7 to 7:30 a.m. Wake-up
— 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Start afternoon nap.
— 6 to 6:30 p.m. Begin the bedtime routine.
— 7 to 8 p.m. Bedtime
Your 2 1/2 to 5-Year-Old’s Sleep Schedule
A lot of changes will occur in these years. Among the highlights are possibly negotiating potty training and nighttime sleep disturbances; moving from a crib to a bed; and dropping an afternoon nap and moving to a quiet time around age 4. During this time, you’ll want to keep bedtime comforting and secure while resisting your child’s clever stalling tactics. At age 5, your child should be getting an average of 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
[See: The 11 Most Dangerous Places in Your Home for Babies and Small Kids.]
I hope this sleep schedule information helps you at each new stage. Enjoy these long days, because the years are flying by before your very eyes!
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Sleep Schedules for Children 6 Months to 5 Years Old originally appeared on usnews.com
