Daily schedule for toddler: Toddler Schedule Examples – Sleeping Should Be Easy

Опубликовано: June 25, 2023 в 4:52 pm

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Toddler Schedule Examples – Sleeping Should Be Easy

Looking for a daily toddler schedule? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, these sample daily schedules can make life easier.

The toddler schedule. This is often the first place we look to when the kids are throwing us off. Your child may be refusing naps or taking a long time to fall asleep. Her behavior since the new baby arrived hasn’t improved but has grown worse.

She could also be starting preschool in a few months, prompting you to start her on a toddler schedule before then. Maybe you’ve been struggling to find things to do now that she’s a toddler.

Or you might be looking for a toddler schedule that doesn’t leave her overtired come bedtime after a long, exhausting afternoon.

You may have tried playing with your current schedule to see if doing that helps, but nothing seems to solve the issue. And the ones you’ve found don’t accommodate your work hours.

Finding the right toddler schedule that works for you

Many of us look to toddler schedules first for good reason. A good routine can solve many of the surprising or relentless issues that come up or never seem to go away. It can turn things around, especially since it makes your days so much more predictable for your child.

The trick is to stay consistent so that you don’t even have to think about it after a while. To keep at it, instead of calling it quits after a few days (schedules rely on consistent repetition, after all).

And of course, you also want to find one you can actually do, one that works with your lifestyle as well as with your child’s needs. A toddler schedule is only as effective as the parent and child implementing it. As we all know, there is hardly a one-size-fits-all solution, including with schedules.

You may even find that a sample toddler schedule that works wonders for a while needs to be tweaked and experimented with over time. After all, your child grows up and may need fewer naps or different activities. Along with consistency, another key point is to observe and tweak as needed.

15 daily toddler schedules to try

That’s why having a sample schedule can be so useful, whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working mom.

Below I list 15 different templates to refer to, based on how other families structure their days with their toddlers. I kept the schedules simple and focused on key “pillar” events of the day—namely meals, naps, and bedtime.

You can vary the activities you do in between, or stick to the same activity every day.

Free printables: Looking for printable activities? Join my newsletter and you’ll get a set of learning activities to do with your little one. Grab the bundle below—at no cost to you. As one parent said:

“It’s nice to have something to print out as needed instead of endless searching on Google and end up with nothing.” -Nicole H.

I hope you can find one that works for you:

Example #1

  • 6:30am wake up
  • 8:30am breakfast
  • 12pm lunch
  • 12:30pm nap
  • 2:30pm snack and playtime
  • 6pm dinner
  • 7:30pm bedtime

Example #2

  • 8:30am wake up and eat breakfast
  • 10:30am small snack
  • 12:30pm lunch
  • 1pm nap
  • 3:30pm snack and independent play
  • 5:30pm dinner
  • 7pm bath and bedtime

Get examples of a 1 year old eating schedule.

Example #3

  • 6am wake up and drink milk
  • 7:30am breakfast
  • 9am snack
  • 10:30am drink milk and take a nap
  • 1pm lunch
  • 3pm snack and playground
  • 5pm dinner
  • 7pm drink milk and bedtime

Example #4

  • 7am wake up and drink milk
  • 8am breakfast
  • 10am snack
  • 12pm lunch and free play
  • 12:30pm nap
  • 3pm snack
  • 5pm dinner
  • 7:30pm bedtime routine starts

Learn what to do when your 1 year old wakes up every 2 hours.

Example #5

  • 7am wake up, drink milk, and eat breakfast
  • 9:30am snack
  • 11am lunch
  • 12pm nap
  • 3pm snack and play in the backyard
  • 6pm dinner
  • 6:30pm brush teeth and bathe
  • 7pm bedtime

Example #6

  • 7:30am wake up
  • 9:15am snack and walk around the neighborhood
  • 12pm lunch
  • 1:30pm nap time
  • 4:30pm snack
  • 6pm dinner
  • 7pm screen time
  • 7:30pm bath
  • 8:30pm bedtime

Learn what to do when your toddler won’t nap.

Example #7

  • 7am wake up and drink milk
  • 8am breakfast
  • 11am lunch
  • 11:30am nap
  • 2pm snack
  • 5:30pm dinner and quiet activities
  • 7pm bathe and change into pajamas
  • 7:30pm bedtime

Learn 5 reasons your toddler is going through the 1 year old sleep regression.

Example #8

  • 7am wake up and eat breakfast
  • 10am snack
  • 11am nap or quiet time
  • 1pm lunch
  • 3pm snack
  • 5pm dinner
  • 6pm bath
  • 7:30pm bedtime

Example #9

  • 8:30am wake up
  • 10am breakfast
  • 11:30am snack
  • 1pm nap
  • 3pm (late) lunch
  • 7pm dinner
  • 8pm bath
  • 8:30pm bedtime

Example #10

  • 7am wake up and drink milk
  • 9am breakfast
  • 11:30am snack
  • 12:30pm lunch
  • 1pm nap
  • 3:30pm snack
  • 6:30pm dinner
  • 7:30pm bath
  • 8pm bedtime

Example #11

  • 6am wake up and drink milk
  • 8:30am breakfast
  • 10:30am snack
  • 12pm lunch
  • 12:30pm nap
  • 3:30pm snack and drink milk
  • 6pm dinner
  • 7pm bath
  • 8pm bedtime

Example #12

  • 7am wake up
  • 7:30am breakfast
  • 11am snack
  • 12pm lunch
  • 1pm nap
  • 2:30pm snack
  • 5:30pm dinner
  • 7:30pm bath
  • 8pm bedtime

Example #13

  • 6:30am wake up
  • 7:30am breakfast
  • 9:30am snack
  • 11:30am lunch
  • 12:30pm nap
  • 2:30pm snack
  • 5:30pm dinner
  • 8pm bath
  • 8:30pm bedtime

Example #14

  • 6am wake up and eat breakfast
  • 9:30am snack
  • 11am lunch
  • 11:30am nap
  • 2pm snack
  • 6pm dinner
  • 6:45pm bedtime routine
  • 7pm bedtime

Example #15

  • 7am wake up and eat breakfast
  • 9am snack
  • 11am lunch
  • 12pm nap
  • 2pm snack
  • 5pm dinner
  • 6:45pm bath
  • 7:15pm bedtime

Get more tips:

  • Toddler Suddenly Refusing Milk? Here’s What to Do
  • 1 Year Old Nap Schedule: Examples that Actually Work
  • Toddler Waking Up at 5am? What to Do with Early Risers
  • Helping Your Toddler Transition from Two Naps to One
  • Toddler Routines: How to Structure Your Day

Don’t forget: Join my newsletter and grab the printable pack below—at no cost to you:

6 Sample Toddler Schedules from Real Moms

6 Awesome Toddler Schedules. 6 sample toddler schedules from 6 real Stay at Homes Moms with toddlers 18 months to 4 years old, who rock their daily routine. Plus, over 40 pre-made routine templates if you want more help to get you from baby to toddler and through the elementary school years. 

Creating a Toddler Schedule: 6 Sample Routines to Help You Get Started

My family follows a daily routine and I have used schedules since my twins were two months old.

I regularly talk about routine and answer questions from readers about how to create a daily toddler schedule that works and make changes when things aren’t working.

I know when I first starting thinking about using a routine, I had no idea where to start. I asked my friends about their own routine to hear what was working well for them.

I think it’s helpful to see what other moms are doing and listen to what works in their homes, so you can see the possibilities of what could work in yours.

This is why I asked six other Stay at Home Moms to share their routines so readers can have a handful of sample of daily toddler schedules to compare and find inspiration for their own.

You can use any of these schedules as a starting point to try a new routine or adjust your current schedule for better sleep habits to fit your toddler.

The best part about making a schedule?

You are in the driver seat of structuring the day for your toddler because you know what will work best for your little one, and your family.

For example:

  • If wake up time of one schedule mirrors the wake up time of your toddler, this might be a great starting point to building your schedule.
  • If the bedtime of another schedule aligns with your toddler’s nightly flow, this could be a good routine to look to for inspiration.

 

Sample Daily Toddler Routines 

1) Daily Toddler Schedule for 18-Month-Old 

  • 8:00am – Wake Up
  • 8:30am – Eat Breakfast
  • 9:00am – Playtime (Outing, Errands, Library)
  • 10:00am – Snack
  • 11:30am – Lunch
  • 12:00pm – Nap
  • 2:30pm – Wake Up
  • 3:00pm – Snack
  • 3:30pm – Playtime (Go for a Walk, Park, Get Outside)
  • 5:30pm – Dinner
  • 6:30pm – Bedtime Routine Starts
  • 7:00pm – Bedtime

 

2) Daily Toddler Schedule for 22-Month-Old 

  • 7:00am – Wake Up
  • 7:30am – Eat Breakfast
  • 8:30am – Playtime and Reading
  • 9:30am – Snack
  • 9:45am – More Playtime
  • 11:30am – Lunch
  • 12:00pm – Nap
  • 2:00 pm – Wake Up
  • 2:30pm – Snack
  • 3:00pm – Playtime Outside
  • 5:30pm – Dinner
  • 6:45 pm – Bedtime Routine Starts
  • 7:15-7:30 pm – Bedtime

 

3) Daily Toddler Schedule for 2-Year-Old (24-Months)

  • 7:30am – Wake up & Play
  • 8:15am – Breakfast
  • 8:45am – Playtime
  • 10:00am – Snack
  • 12:00pm – Lunch
  • 12:30pm – Nap
  • 2:30pm – Nap Ends
  • 2:45pm – Snack
  • 3:00pm – Playtime
  • 5:30pm – Dinner
  • 7:00pm – Bath and Pajamas
  • 7:20ish – Reading
  • 7:45pm – Lights Out

 

4) Daily Toddler Schedule for 31-Month-Old (2. 5-Years-Old)

  • 7:45am – Wake Up and Play
  • 8:00am – Breakfast
  • 8:30am – Playtime
  • 10:00am – Snack
  • 11:30am – Lunch
  • 12:30pm – Nap
  • 2:30pm – Wake Up
  • 3:00pm – Snack
  • 3:15pm – Playtime
  • 5:45pm – Dinner
  • 7:00pm – Get Ready for Bed / Bath, Bedtime Routine
  • 7:30pm – Book & Song
  • 7:45pm – Bedtime

 

5) Daily Toddler Schedule for 3.5-Year Old (45-Months-Old) 

  • 7:00am – Wake up
  • 7:30am – Breakfast
  • 8:00am – Playtime
  • 8:45am – Preschool or Activity if No School
  • 9:30am – Snack
  • 12:00pm – Lunch
  • 1:00pm – Nap
  • 2:30pm – Wake Up from Nap
  • 3:00pm – Playtime
  • 3:30pm – Snack
  • 3:45pm – Playtime
  • 5:45pm – Dinner
  • 6:15pm – Wind Down For Bed (Books, Puzzles, Coloring)
  • 7:15pm – Bath and Bedtime Routine
  • 7:45pm – Lights Out

 

6)Baby & Toddler Schedule for 3. 5-Year Old (45-Months-Old) 

  • 6:30am – Toddler Wakes Up
  • 7:00am – Toddler Breakfast
  • 7:30am – Baby Wakes Up, Nurse/Feed & Change Diaper
  • 8:00am – Playtime
  • 8:45am – Baby Nap
  • 9:00am – Toddler Snack
  • 9:45am – Baby Wakes Up, Nurse/Feed & Change Diaper
  • 10am – Morning Outing
  • 12:00pm – Lunch
  • 12:30pm – Both Kids Nap at the Same Time
  • 2:00pm – Baby Wakes Up
  • 2:30/3pm – Toddler Wakes Up
  • 3:00pm – Snack
  • 3:15pm – Playtime (Usually Outside or Go For a Walk)
  • 5:30pm – Dinner
  • 6:30pm – Bedtime Routine for Baby Begins (one parent)
  • 6:45pm – Baby Nurse/Feed
  • 7:00pm – Baby Bedtime
  • 7:00pm – Bedtime Routine for Toddler Begins (other parent)
  • 7:30pm – Bedtime for Toddler

Parenting Resource: Collection of all Sleep & Routine Related Articles from The Pragmatic Parent

 

My Favorite Trick for Helping Kids Learn a Toddler Schedule

What if I told you there’s a way to better way than repeating yourself 2 bazillion times, nagging, yelling and begging your child to pick up their shoes and clean up their toys a bazillion times?

Routines, are essentially repeating the same steps over and over again each day.

For example, every morning has the same steps:

  • wake up
  • get changed into clothes
  • put pajamas in hamper
  • eat breakfast
  • brush teeth
  • playtime

Routines help kids learn what’s expected of the day and give them a sense of security and control when they know what to do. When you don’t have a routine yet, and are teaching your child all the steps of the routine, the best way to master them are with routine cards.

We use routine cards (we used these exact routine cards for girls and these routine cards for boys).

I love that the set has routine and chore cards for when kids are ready for age-appropriate chores and more responsibility. Routine cards were an essential part of all of my kids mastery of their daily schedules and what was expected of them.

Routine cards also help kids be independent without nagging or feeling like the kids aren’t listening.

Parenting Resource: 11 Charts for Kids: Chores, Reward & Daily Routines to Help Kids Thrive

 

How Much Sleep Does a Toddler Need?

Every child’s sleep needs are different but typically from 18-months to 4-years-old, the number of hours of sleep between nap and bedtime is in a range of 12 – 14 hours. Some kids may nap longer than others, and some may sleep longer at night than other toddlers.

Aiming for 12 – 14 hours of solid sleep between nap and bedtime is a good goal.

Here is a printable sleep chart (download and print) based on age of the child and breaks down the total hours of sleep between naps, bedtime and estimated bedtimes to help guide you.

 

Has Your Toddler’s Sleep Been Hit With a Toddler Sleep Regression?

Baby and toddler sleep comes with a whole bag of challenges, and Toddler Sleep Regressions are some of the hardest.

Toddlers who make you think it’s time to stop napping, refuse to sleep through the night, wake up often and make you want to pull out your hair… could be going through a big sleep regression.

Here are resources for every sleep regression age & stage:

  • 6 Week Sleep Regression
  • 4 Month Sleep Regression
  • 8 – 10 Month Sleep Regression
  • 18 Month Sleep Regression
  • 2 Year Toddler Sleep Regression
  • Sleep Regressions: What You Need to Know to Survive Them
  • Want more help with a Sleep Regression: The Sleep Regression: Survival Tips for Every Strategy eBook is a printable resource to help you, and your toddler get back to sleep and the #1 product from The Pragmatic Parent.

 

Is Your Child Waking up Too Early? 

Children who are waking up too early, are generally overtired and struggle at bedtime.  You can translate bedtime battles based on early wake-up times in these areas that may need adjustment:

  • Toddlers don’t need to nap as long (too much sleep during the day means they’ll need less nighttime sleep. This translates into early wake-up times.)
  • The room isn’t dark enough and lets in too much light during the early morning hours (black-out curtains are a lifesaver!)
  • Children’s bedtime and alarm clocks help kids recognize when it’s OK to wake up and get out of bed, or otherwise go back to sleep and stay in bed

More tips on helping a child who is waking up too early can be read in this article.

Grab your copy of the Master Routines & Schedules eBook with examples for newborns through preschool aged children. (Plus 97-pages jam-packed with good info on sleep, routines and all things little kids!)

 

Need a little extra help starting or adjusting your daily routine? Here’s a FREE Course that will help you take control & bring more peace to your home.  

 

 

More Sleep & Routine Resources:
  • 11 Helpful Charts for Kids: Chores, Reward & Daily Routines to Help Kids Thrive
  • Create an Awesome Routine for Better Sleep Habits
  • 6 Tips to Get Your Child Out of Bed in the Morning Without a Fight
  • Sleep Strategies for a Good Night’s Sleep & Daily Routines for Kids

FREE PARENTING GUIDE: 8 COMMON PARENTING MISTAKES & HOW TO FIX THEM








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A child’s daily routine up to the year

“There is nothing worse than the unknown” – this expression is true for parents and for children. Even if now it seems to you that there is nothing more boring than following a daily routine, you should know:

– daily routine makes parenting easier – you can plan things, attract help and set aside time for your rest;

– thanks to the predictable order of actions, parents experience less stress and fatigue;

– children love the routine, they are calmed by predictability – a certain order gives children a sense of security, reduces stress;

– daily routine strengthens the child’s nervous system and metabolic processes;

– the mode allows you to set the work of the “internal clock of the body”;

– mode – the most effective tool for improving sleep.

Researchers found that 72% of children aged 0 to 5 with a regular sleep ritual went to bed earlier, fell asleep faster, woke up less often, had longer sleep duration*

How does the child’s routine change?

An infant’s daily routine changes several times during the first year of life. The baby is born with an undeveloped chaotic sleep, does not distinguish between day and night. We are not talking about the daily routine by the clock, the child lives in his own rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Gradually, the baby grows, his nervous system and endurance are getting stronger, he can withstand long periods of time without overwork. The structure of a child’s sleep is changing, becoming more and more like an adult’s sleep.

Wake time grows with your baby.

– Children spend 2/3 of their time sleeping with several periods of sleep and wakefulness. The sleep cycle lasts approximately 40-50 minutes (depending on age) and repeats cyclically.

– Between the 3rd and 4th month of a child’s life, circadian rhythms are formed. The baby begins to respond to light / dark, external signals (for example, rituals), which helps him to distinguish between sleep and wakefulness.

– It is during this period that sleep consolidates around the night – children sleep more at night and less during the day; the first glimpses of the regime of the day by the hour are formed.

As the baby grows, the amount of nighttime sleep increases and the amount of daytime sleep decreases:

– Newborn: 4-6 naps

– 6-9 months: 3 naps

– 9-15/18 months: 2

– 15/18 months – 4 years: 1 nap

For your convenience, all the most important moments at each age, we have put in the table:

Age 9 0054

 SLEEP: important moments in every age
0-3 months

– no regime, babies live in feeding regime

– establishment of breastfeeding – priority

– it is more convenient to put it down when the mother herself goes to bed (at 22-23:00)

3-4 months

– a “sleep window” appears, it is worth fixing the time of nightly bedtime

– daytime naps remain “unorganized”

4-5 months

– night sleep is stabilizing – bedtime and wake-up time

– morning sleep is recorded – 1. 5 hours after waking up, 2 afternoon sleeps

5-6 months

– the first mode, the start time of night sleep in the interval 19:00 – 20:30

– daytime sleep is stabilizing

6-8 months

– follow the daily routine, monitor the sleep conditions

– for breastfed and formula-fed babies, separate food and sleep

9-12 months

– refusal of the 3rd daytime sleep is possible, refusal of night feedings

– peak of separation from mother + mastering new skills disturbs sleep

1-2.5 years

– 2 naps are consolidated into 1 nap, nap time remains the same

– all food offered before brushing teeth – eating in bed is a bad habit!

How to start building a regime?

All babies are different – with different temperament, pace of development, health characteristics and individual need for sleep. That is why the norms of sleep and wakefulness have such wide boundaries, and the daily routine, which is ideal for one baby, will not work at all for another.

The task of parents is to be observant and choose exactly the mode that will suit your child. Do not forget to change the mode when the baby grows out of it

But how to build a regimen that is right for your child? We suggest not to rush, not to adjust the child to the tables, but to act gradually and thoughtfully.

Below are 6 simple steps to help you build a comfortable daily routine for your child.

1. Keep records.

                                                                                                                     . In a series of similar days and without records, it is difficult to remember how much your child slept, what time he ate or fell asleep, how often he woke up.

Recordings will allow you to better analyze the situation, understand whether the child is getting enough sleep, monitor progress, share your observations with a doctor or sleep consultant.

For several days, write down in detail all the important moments of your child’s day:

  • wake up time in the morning
  • bedtime including all bedtime rituals
  • how long does it take for a baby to fall asleep
  • start time and duration of daytime and nighttime sleep
  • number of awakenings
  • as well as other events of the day: feeding, walking, playing, going to the toilet, crying.

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2. Record the time you get up in the morning.

Getting ready for a good night’s sleep is important in the morning. To make the night perfect, start preparing at sunrise!

The best time to start the day is between 6:00 am and 7:30 am. If the baby sleeps too long in the morning, this will negatively affect the entire alignment of the day, as well as the time of departure for a night’s sleep. As terrible as it sounds, wake your child up if they are sleeping after 7:30 in the morning. Please note that wake-ups before 6:00 am are considered too early. If the baby wakes up too early in the morning, this is a signal that the proposed regimen does not suit him, and there is not enough sleep.

3. Keep track of your wake time.

Find out how much wake time (WB) your child has. This knowledge helps to build the regime correctly and not to miss the signs of fatigue, carried away by business.

Understanding the minimum, comfortable and maximum awake time helps to effectively plan the time of the parents, or at least understand how much time is available from one nap to another.

For example, a mother knows that the child will need to be put to bed in 10 minutes, she will not start preparing a complex dish that requires her attention.

Knowing how long your baby goes awake helps you better recognize your baby’s signals. Especially if he does not show signs of fatigue well or the mother has not yet learned to understand these signs.

It is important to check the wake time every 2-3 weeks and adjust the regimen. Ask yourself every few weeks “has my baby grown up, has his WB changed?”

If we look at the table of wakefulness norms, we will see that the boundaries of the norms are quite wide. Remember that the time of wakefulness throughout the day is unevenly distributed – the shortest WB before morning sleep, the longest WB before night.

For your convenience, we have put all the most important moments at each age in the table:

Focus on the lower limit of normal if:

Refer to the upper limit of normal if:

– the baby fits into the first daytime sleep,

– the baby feels bad,

– the child had a very strenuous activity,

– the baby had a short sleep, which could not be extended

– the baby is laid down for a night’s sleep

– the baby slept through a full daytime sleep (2 cycles)

– the child is in good health

4. Form the correct wakefulness rhythm.

All your activities during the day are essential for quality daytime and nighttime sleep.

Go outside in the morning to give your child a daily dose of sunlight. This is necessary for the formation of circadian rhythms and the production of the “sleep hormone” melatonin.

It is important that the child is not too tired during the day. Severe overwork will harm sleep, and it is very difficult for an overexcited baby to calm down and fall asleep. But, at the same time, the baby needs to accumulate the “right” fatigue.

                                                              when when the child is awake, the correct sequence should be: 1) after sleep, choose an active activity, 2) then switch the child to quiet wakefulness, 3) conduct a ritual of preparation for sleep and 4) sleep.

Active wakefulness is not only physical activity, but also mental stress, learning new things, including new skills.

Examples of active wakefulness:

  • walk,
  • practicing any new skill (crawling, walking, finger painting, sorting or pyramiding),
  • new people or people who rarely come,
  • physical interaction with mother or other loved ones – tickling, squeezing, massage, gymnastics
  • participation in “adult” household chores

How does staying awake affect sleep?

– Physical activity lengthens deep sleep

– Practicing new skills during the day contributes to their fixation

– The child receives the necessary dose of sunlight and serotonin, which turns into melatonin in the dark

– Physical activity “burns” accumulated stress hormones

9005 7

Quiet wakefulness – it is any normal activity. For example, reading, sorting, transfusion, kinetic and ordinary sand, grits.

How does staying awake affect sleep?

  • Gradually reduces muscle tension
  • Creates predictability by reducing anxiety
  • Emotional intimacy and physical contact with the mother “quench” the need for contact, acceptance and strengthen attachment
  • Switches to inner sensations more than to the world outside

A cool idea for a quiet wake is a sensory box. A large box or bowl filled with sand, grains, balls and small items. Periodically change the contents of the box, the child can dig in it for a long time, shift objects, touch sand or grains.

5. Choose a time to prepare for sleep rituals.

In the evenings, any house is usually busy. The whole family is together, everyone wants to eat and communicate, noise and light. From this, the baby can be overexcited. And it will be difficult to put him to sleep. To avoid this, start getting ready for bed gradually, at least half an hour before bedtime:

– close the curtains, dim the lights throughout the house (turn on the bottom light in the house and dim lamp in the bedroom)

– turn off the music, TV, computer, put away the phone (in addition to noise, they also emit blue spectrum rays that are detrimental to melatonin)

– turn on “white noise” (recording, special device or toy with white noise)

– give a relaxing massage to your baby

– bathe him in a warm bath

– read a book, tell a story or sing a lullaby

These rituals will help your baby switch from wakefulness, relax and tune in to sleep. Use an abbreviated version of rituals before nap time. It is important that the ritual is liked not only by the baby, but also by the mother.

Even more ideas for bedtime rituals you will find in our ritual generator http://zasypalki.spimalysh.ru

6. Find the perfect time to go to bed for a night’s sleep – “sleep window”

The time when melatonin The “sleep hormone” accumulates in the blood in sufficient concentration to fall asleep, we call it the “sleep window”. If you recognize the “sleep window” and put the baby to bed at this time, his sleep will be long and of high quality.

In most children, the “window of sleep” should be sought in the early evening, between 18:30 and 20:30 hours. It does not last long, 15-20 minutes.

From birth to 3/4 months: until the synthesis of its own melatonin is established, the child can be laid down at 22-23:00.

Starting at 3/4 months: It is important to calculate your baby’s “sleep window” and go to bed at that time, starting all bedtime preparations 30-40 minutes before this time.

How to find your baby’s sleep window?

Finding a sleep window is easy. The main thing is to postpone all household chores in the evening and turn on observation. The baby will show early signs of fatigue – rubbing his eyes, yawning, freezing, losing interest in the game, asking for a breast or a bottle.

It happens that the baby does not show early signs of fatigue. Then the “sleep window” can be found by the selection method – move the evening bedtime by 15 minutes every 3 days and carefully analyze how the night went.

*Mindell J.A., Li A.M., Sadeh A., Kwon R., Goh D.Y.T. Bedtime Routines for Young Children: A Dose-Dependent Association with Sleep Outcomes // Sleep. 2015; 38 (5): 717-722 https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/38/5/717/2416930/Bedtime-Routines-for-Young-Children-A-Dose

CORRECT DAY REGION FOR CHILDREN

The correct daily routine and its timely organization is the key to a child’s health, his easy adaptation to kindergarten and, subsequently, to school . In addition, the daily routine is the basis of education.

A number of changes are constantly taking place in the body of a 1-3-year-old baby, for these reasons it is advisable to change the daily routine. In the interval from one to three years, the daily routine changes three times.
It is important for parents to know that all recommendations are not strict and there are no standards. And the regimen of the child should match the needs of the child. It is impossible to abruptly transfer a baby from one daily regimen to another. This can provoke the child’s negative emotions, the baby will become capricious, due to lack of sleep, frequent mood changes occur, absent-mindedness is formed, and various health problems are possible for the baby.

Baby’s daily routine 1-1.5 years old

In the second year of life, various changes occur in the baby’s body, children get tired quickly, but they do a lot of useful and important things in a day. Toddlers begin to actively walk, use a spoon, begin to pronounce simple words, their vocabulary is constantly replenished. All these activities require large energy costs.

Babies can sleep once or twice a day. The first nap can be 2–2.5 hours, the second nap a little less (about 2 hours). But most often, babies sleep once a day for about 3-4 hours. Before going to bed, it must be washed at least half an hour before going to bed. In order for the baby to sleep well, it is necessary to put him to bed at about the same time for daytime and nighttime sleep. This will help form a reflex.

In the summer, the baby should sleep in the fresh air. It is permissible to sleep on the street, on the veranda, if the temperature permits. If this is not possible, then the baby needs to sleep at least with an open window or window.

Also in the warm season, when daylight hours are longer, the daytime sleep of the child should be a little longer, but the baby should be put to bed at night a little later.

It is necessary to feed the baby 4 times a day with a break of 3.5-4 hours. The baby’s day regimen should line up so that after feeding there is a period of wakefulness, active games, walks, classes, after which sleep is necessary until the next feeding. It is this daily routine that will ensure the normal condition of the baby.
Waking periods between sleep should be 4.5-5 hours. Shortening sleep time or lengthening wakefulness is unacceptable, as this can lead to mood swings, the baby will not be able to fall asleep immediately, his nervous system will be too excited.

During the active period, the child can go about his business, namely to learn about the world around him. The baby needs to be occupied with walks, games or developmental activities.

Great importance is attached to walking with a child. Walks should be done twice a day. It is advisable to walk after lunch and before dinner, and the walking time should be at least an hour. In winter, it can be 1. 5 hours, but depending on the temperature outside in the warm season, walks can be safely increased to 2 hours.

Hygiene procedures are no less important, which should be carried out 2-3 times a week and always before bedtime. A bath relaxes babies and helps them fall asleep more easily. During water procedures, babies need to instill their first hygiene skills. These skills include handwashing, washing, etc. Also, it is from this age that the baby must be taught to sit on the potty and sit next to him until the result is obtained.

Approximate daily routine for a child aged 1–1.5 years

Wake up in the morning at 7.30-8.00.

After waking up, morning baths are necessary.

Breakfast – 7.30-8.00.

Wakefulness should take place after breakfast and before dinner.

Some children may want to go to bed as early as 10:00-10:30.

After waking up between 12.00 and 15.30, it is necessary to have lunch and be sure to take a walk with the baby.

After a walk, babies should go to bed, and if the baby sleeps once a day, then afternoon naps are preferred.

Waking up at 17.00 is followed by an afternoon snack and a walk, the child is awake until the night sleep.

Before going to bed, the baby must be bathed at 19.30.

Feed the baby at 20.00.

The baby should fall asleep at 20.30-21.00.

Daily routine of babies from 1.5 to 2 years old

At this age, kids have even more necessary things to do, kids stand pyramids of cubes, participate in the dressing process, buckles on shoes are especially loved. Kids can already drink on their own, while holding a mug or drinking bowl in their own hands. In their games, they use what they see or hear, they can feed their favorite toy or try to comb it.
With the achievement of 1.5 years, even those babies who slept 2 times a day switch to a regimen with one daytime sleep. The duration of such sleep is 3–3.5–4 hours. The share of night sleep accounts for 10-11 hours. It turns out that in total, babies sleep 13–14.5 hours a day.

The child’s diet also remains 4 times a day with intervals between feedings of 3.5–4.5 hours. The interval between feedings, when the baby is awake, should not be more than 3.5 hours.

The toddler is active during wakefulness, is engaged in important and outdoor games, the body quickly uses up energy reserves.

After waking up in the morning, the child should have breakfast no later than one hour later. The same rule must be followed before bedtime (dinner should be no more than an hour before bedtime. Such simple rules will ensure the child has a good active morning and a good night’s sleep.

Further, the periods between sleep increase and should be 5–5.5 hours.Toddlers also devote all their free time to games.It is important for parents to remember about active and cognitive games with the baby.

Children of this age are happy to use various spatulas, buckets, and collect sand “little cakes”. For these reasons, the number of walks with the child remains the same – 2 times, but the order of walks changes somewhat. You can walk with the baby either after breakfast or before lunch, and when you come home, you need to eat and go to bed.

The second walk should be after lunch. The duration of the walk remains the same as for babies 1–1.5 years old, but it is permissible to increase the walk by no more than 20 minutes.
By the age of two, babies should be asking for a potty on their own, but this is not a strict rule. There are situations when kids are passionate about the game and can not always let their parents know about their needs. It is important for parents to know this and not to panic when this happens to their child. Moms should offer the baby to sit on the potty, thereby reminding and distracting him from the game. Be sure the baby should be planted on the potty after and before bedtime.

Approximate daily routine for children 1. 5-2 years old

The baby should wake up at 7.30, as mentioned earlier. Breakfast should be at least an hour later. The optimal time for breakfast is 8.00. Breakfast is followed by a period of wakefulness, during this period you can take a walk or take a child with a useful and interesting game.

At 12 o’clock the baby should have lunch and from 12.30 to 15.30 the baby should sleep.

After waking up, an afternoon snack and a walk follow. In the winter season, a walk can be replaced by family communication at home, and taking a walk with the baby when it is light, i.e. after lunch.

Upon returning from a walk at 18.30, the baby must be bathed.

At 19.30 the baby should have dinner and only after that – a night’s sleep.

The peanut must sleep from 20.30 to 7.30.

Daily routine for a child from 2 to 3 years old

This age period is especially important in the development of the baby, as the child’s independence and creative nature are being formed. Toddlers are already beginning to speak in sentences, often repeating everything they hear around. The speech of the child is gradually approaching the speech of an adult.

Toddlers can independently put on and take off socks, a shirt or a T-shirt, independently ask for a potty, indicating what actions the baby intends to perform.

During this period of time, babies may avoid daytime naps altogether, but it is important for parents to replace this period with quiet games or other activities such as looking at a book or watching cartoons. Such calm periods in the daily routine will help to relax the child’s nervous system and prevent overwork. If babies sleep during the day, then, as a rule, this is an afternoon nap.

Waking periods continue to increase and amount to 6–6.5 hours. For babies who lead a very active lifestyle or for babies who are weak, wake periods can be shortened by about an hour. The periods of wakefulness should consist of a series of active and passive activities, it is this rule that will not allow overwork of the child’s nervous system, since babies are still quickly excitable and can quickly get tired of the same type of activity.

Walking with your baby may increase in the summer. If in winter, depending on weather conditions, walks should not exceed 1.5 hours, since the baby can quickly freeze, then in the warm season, almost all wakefulness and even daytime sleep can be transferred to the street.

Toddlers 2–3 years old have already developed a strong perception of the potty, but it is too early for parents to relax, it is still necessary to put the baby out and offer to go to the toilet, especially on the street when the baby has played too much.

At this age it is important to consolidate the child’s skills, for this it is necessary to praise the child and reinforce it with constant repetitions.

Sample routine for 2-3 year olds

Wake up – 7.30

Breakfast – 8.00

Breakfast is followed by a period of wakefulness, until 12 you can take a walk with the baby or engage in useful games or activities.

Lunch – 12.30

Sleep – 13.