Module 16
Toddler Sleep Schedule Template
Age-based schedules and the nap transition roadmap (2 to 1 to 0)
How to Use This: Find the schedule that matches your child's current age, then check the nap transition signs to see if they're ready to move to the next stage. Don't skip ahead — most children need more time than parents expect before dropping a nap.
The AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) recommends 11-14 hours of total sleep for ages 1-2 and 10-13 hours for ages 3-5. How that sleep is divided between naps and night changes dramatically in the toddler years. Here's what the transitions actually look like.
12-15 Months: Two Naps
| Time | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00-7:00 AM | Wake up | — |
| 9:00-9:30 AM | Nap 1 | 1-1.5 hours |
Wake windows
3 / 3.5 / 4 hours
Total day sleep
2-3 hours
The 2-to-1 Nap Transition (13-18 months)
This is the hardest nap transition. Most kids are ready between 14-16 months, but some hold onto two naps until 18 months. Don't rush it.
Signs They're Ready to Drop to 1 Nap
How to Transition
- 1Push the morning nap later by 15 minutes every 2-3 days.
- 2Target a single nap starting around 12:00-12:30 PM.
15-24 Months: One Nap
| Time | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00-7:00 AM | Wake up | — |
| 12:00-12:30 PM | Nap | 2-3 hours |
Wake windows
5-6 hrs / 4-5 hrs
Total day sleep
2-3 hours
2-3 Years: One Nap (Shortening)
| Time | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30-7:00 AM | Wake up | — |
| 12:30-1:00 PM | Nap | 1.5-2.5 hours |
Wake windows
5.5-6 hrs / 4-5 hrs
Total day sleep
1.5-2.5 hours
The 1-to-0 Nap Transition (2.5-5 years)
Most kids drop the nap between ages 3 and 4. Some hold on until 5. Don't force it — but don't fight it either. A child who takes 45 minutes to fall asleep at bedtime probably doesn't need the nap anymore.
Signs They're Ready to Drop the Nap
How to Transition
- 1Replace the nap with 'quiet time' (1 hour in their room with books, puzzles, or audiobooks).
- 2Move bedtime earlier by 30-60 minutes temporarily.
3-5 Years: No Nap
| Time | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30-7:00 AM | Wake up | — |
| 1:00-2:00 PM | Quiet time (not sleep) | 45-60 min |
Total sleep needed
10-13 hours (all at night)
Quiet time
Maintains rest without disrupting night sleep
If your child is in daycare or preschool that enforces a nap, talk to the teachers about quiet rest instead of sleep, or limit the nap to 30-45 minutes. Many bedtime battles in 3-4 year olds are caused by a school-mandated nap they no longer need.
Next Steps: Once your schedule is set, use the Toddler Sleep Environment Audit to make sure the room supports the routine. If bedtime is still a battle after 2 weeks on the right schedule, try the 7-Day Sleep Reset Planner.
© 2026 Avaneuro · avaneuro.com · For educational purposes only. Not medical advice.