Sleep Schedule for 1 year old

Most 1-year-olds are in the process of transitioning from two naps down to one longer nap, or have just completed this transition. There isn't a strict age, but typically between 12-18 months. Signs your child might be ready to drop to one nap include: consistently resisting their second nap, the second nap becoming very short, taking a long time to fall asleep for bedtime, or waking up unusually early in the morning despite good naps. If you see these signs, gradually shift their morning nap later by 15-30 minutes every few days until it becomes one midday nap, usually around 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM.

For a 1-year-old on one nap, an ideal schedule typically involves a single nap taken mid-day. A common timing is to put them down for their nap between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM, after lunch. This allows for a good wake window in the morning (around 5-6 hours from waking) and a sufficient wake window in the afternoon/evening before bedtime (around 4-5 hours after waking from the nap). The nap itself usually lasts between 1.5 to 3 hours. Consistency in nap time helps regulate their internal clock, but remember to adjust slightly based on their individual wake-up time each morning.

Nap resistance in 1-year-olds is common, often due to overtiredness or undertiredness, or developmental milestones. First, ensure your nap schedule aligns with their natural wake windows (e.g., if on one nap, a 5-6 hour wake window before the nap, and 4-5 hours after the nap until bedtime). Create a consistent pre-nap routine (e.g., dim lights, read a book, cuddle) to signal that sleep is coming. Make sure their sleep environment is dark, quiet, and cool. If they resist, stick to the routine and offer the opportunity for sleep. Avoid letting them get overly tired, as this often makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.

A healthy single nap for a 1-year-old typically ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours. If your 1-year-old consistently takes short naps (e.g., 30-60 minutes), consider these factors: Are they going down overtired or undertired? Adjusting their wake window slightly can make a big difference. Is their sleep environment optimal (dark, quiet, cool)? Are they still capable of falling asleep independently? Sometimes, a short nap is just what they needed, but if it consistently leads to fussiness before the next sleep period, it's worth troubleshooting. Resist the urge to rush in immediately if they wake early; give them a few minutes to resettle themselves.

Yes, naps significantly impact nighttime sleep. The right amount of daytime sleep, taken at the right times, helps prevent your 1-year-old from becoming overtired, which is a major cause of bedtime resistance, night waking, and early morning wake-ups. However, too much daytime sleep or naps that are too late in the day can indeed interfere with nighttime sleep, pushing back bedtime or causing night wakings. It's a balance: ensure they get enough restorative sleep during the day without it encroaching on their nighttime sleep needs. If night sleep is a struggle, evaluate both the timing and duration of their naps.