Is your toddler almost turning 2, and you can see behavioral changes? Don’t worry when a toddler starts to grow, and you can expect him to be a little moody. Therefore, it becomes a little daunting for parents to handle their kids. Just like other changes in a toddler’s behavior, the sleeping pattern is one of the most changes that can be experienced.
A 2-year-old sleep schedule should be maintained and planned accordingly so that the kid participates equally in activities and gets enough sleep. It has been observed that some kids tend to sleep more and take 4-5 naps a day, whereas some might take one nap a day. Therefore, following a routine or pattern for a 2-year sleep schedule is quite important.
Hence, if you are also wondering how to do so, then we are here with 21 examples of a 2-year-old sleep schedule.
Importance of The Quality of Sleep
The quality of sleep is important for children’s overall health and well-being. Factors such as sleep environment, bedtime routines, and sleep associations can significantly impact a child’s sleep quality. However, implementing a consistent bedtime routine has been associated with longer sleep duration and improved sleep quality in toddlers.
Bedtime routines have also been linked to better sleep outcomes in children, including earlier bedtimes, shorter sleep onset latency, and fewer nighttime awakenings. Therefore, it is important for parents to establish consistent bedtime routines and create a sleep-conducive environment to promote good sleep habits in their children.
Top Associations that Reports that Improper Sleep Significantly Affects a Child’s Bedtime Routines:
Some Examples of 2-Year-Old Sleep Schedule
As a kid starts growing up, the sleep schedule also starts to change. The amount of sleep a newborn toddler requires is totally different from what a 2-year-old requires. As the baby starts to grow, the day cycle changes, and the kid starts playing, learning, and eating, due to which sleep cycle and nap schedules might vary. Therefore, it is essential to build a good 2-year-old sleep schedule. Speaking of which, you might be wondering how to build a suitable 2-year-old sleep schedule, and for that, we are happy to help you.
Here is a list of 21 examples of a 2-year-old sleep schedule.
Example 1
- Wakeup: 6:00 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:00 PM
Example 2
- Wakeup: 6:00 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 3
- Wakeup: 6:30 AM
- Nap: 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 4
- Wakeup: 6:30 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:00 PM
Example 5
- Wakeup: 6:30 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM- 3:30 PM
- Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Example 6
- Wakeup: 6:30 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Example 7
- Wakeup: 6:30 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 8
- Wakeup: 6:45 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Example 9
- Wakeup: 7:00 AM
- Nap: 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Example 10
- Wakeup: 7:00 AM
- Nap: 11:00 AM-1:30 PM
- Bedtime: 7:00 PM
Example 11
- Wakeup: 7:00 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Example 12
- Wakeup: 7:00 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Example 13
- Wakeup: 7:00 AM
- Nap: 12:30 PM- 3:30 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 14
- Wakeup: 7:30 AM
- Nap: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Example 15
- Wakeup: 7:30 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:45 PM
Example 16
- Wakeup: 7:30 AM
- Nap: 1:30 PM- 4:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Example 17
- Wakeup: 7:30 AM
- Nap: 1:30 PM- 4:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 18
- Wakeup: 7:30 AM
- Nap: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
- Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Example 19
- Wakeup: 8 AM
- Nap: 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:00 PM
Example 20
- Wakeup: 8:30 AM
- Nap: 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Example 21
- Wakeup: 8:45 AM
- Nap: 2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
- Bedtime: 8:30 PM
How to Change a 2-Year-Old Sleep Schedule?
Kids are very adamant while changing their old pattern to new pattern, especially when it comes to sleep. They don’t like to go out of their comfort zone and old habits and adapt to something new. Hence, it can be difficult for you to change your 2-year-old sleep schedule to a new one. Regardless of what sleep schedule you choose for your 2-year-old, there are certain things that you can follow to help them easily adapt to something new.
We have listed a few tips and tricks you can follow for changing your 2-year-old sleep schedule.
- Some kids don’t fall asleep very easily; they become very fussy and might take an hour to fall asleep. In such cases, try to go for shorter naps. When a kid takes longer naps, it becomes difficult for them to be sleepy for bedtime. You can limit the nap time so that by bedtime, your kid is sleepy.
- Sometimes, kids get too tired after playing, and due to this, they are not able to sleep. Yes, you heard it right, sometimes they can’t sleep because they are already very tired. To maintain so, you can get your kid to sleep a little early, just like 15 mins prior to bedtime.
- Don’t hurry and give up in 2-3 days. Building a routine for a 2-year-old sleep schedule might take some time. Hence, make sure to follow a pattern of sleep and naps for at least 5 days. Doing this will help your kid to adapt to the new sleep cycle effectively.
- You should not end nap time early because your kid is awake. Instead, make sure to keep him in bed and try to make him fall asleep until it’s actual bedtime. This might be a good way to teach your kids not to be awake early, or they might even fall back to sleep.
What is the Ideal Time for 2-Year-Old to Go to Bed?
Sleep time can vary due to many factors like wake-up time, nap time, number of naps, and more. However, if you look closely, you can observe that all 2-year-old sleep schedules fall under 1.30 hours window, which is from 7 PM to 8:30 PM at night. We will also suggest you do the same, don’t keep your kid awake past 8:30 PM at night because it might build the wrong sleeping pattern for your kid.
Apart from this, it has also been observed that different kids have different sleep durations. Some feel good in 9-10 hours of sleep, whereas some require 13-14 hours of sleep. This sleep duration effectively affects the 2-year-old sleep schedule. Due to this, you have to plan your kid’s sleep cycle accordingly. You can push sleep time as per the sleep duration too.
For instance, a kid might need only 10 hours of sleep, and 7 pm bedtime means 5 am wakeup, which is quite early. In such case, you shift the bedtime to 8:30 pm too.
How Much Time Should a 2-Year-Old Sleep Schedule Include?
As per the data and research by doctors, it has been observed that a toddler needs a sleep duration of 11 hours to 14 hours every day. Anything falling between this range is considered healthy. However, it is not required to maintain the same during nighttime.
Only a balanced pattern of nighttime sleep and daytime naps should be followed for a 2-year-old sleep schedule. You can add 10- 11 hours of sleep at night and 1-2 hours of rest during the day. This sleep pattern can vary as per your child’s needs too.
How Long Should a 2-Year-Old Take a Nap?
Just like bedtime varies, so does nap time varies. A 2-year-old sleep schedule is a mix of both nighttime sleep and naps. Hence, it is advised to consider the 24-hour day cycle of your kid while planning naps. For instance, a 2-hour nap is effectively good if your kid is getting 10 hours of sleep at night. It can possibly change as per the need of the child as well.
As discussed above, some kids tend to sleep more, whereas others might sleep less. Ideally, a kid must get a 1-1:30 hour nap, but it can possibly vary as per your need.
Tips for a 2-Year-Old Sleep Schedule
Below are some tips listed for a 2-Year Old Sleep Schedule:
- When a kid starts to grow old and especially at 24 months, there are a lot of physical and emotional changes happening. Be it teething, playing with toys, anxiety, or separation triggers, everything can change the behavior of your kid.
- Due to this, it can be difficult for your kid to sleep peacefully at night. Your kid might sleep less, wake up frequently, and not fall asleep quickly. All these factors can be a cause of growing up, and it can make you will trapped.
- The only way to deal with this is by staying calm and consistent. Examine factors and changes in your kid, and then make a sleep schedule for your kid. Make sure you are not being very hard on your kid while developing a habit.
- Apart from this, another thing that has been noticed in 2-year-old sleep schedules is that kids start to resist naps. They go all ignorant and agitated when it comes to taking naps during the day.
- As per pediatric sleep experts, it is advised to follow an everyday nap routine. No matter how much your kid resists taking a nap, try to make them sleep during the day too.
- Doing this every day will build a habit for them, and slowly, they will slow doing that. Additionally, the ideal gap between nap time and sleep time should be 5.5 hours; it can slightly vary as per your kid’s requirements too.
Conclusion
All in all, after reading about all the concerns and factors that affect the 2-year-old schedule, you might be wondering if it is possible to train your kid to sleep accordingly. Yes, it is; with patience and persistence, you can train your kid to sleep. Make sure to follow a good 2-year-old sleep schedule that involves your kid’s sleeping pattern and needs.
Additionally, try to follow it for some days to make it a habit. Your kid might end up being a little rigid, but you have to be consistent, as sleep is one of the most essential parts of kids’ sleep. You can take inspiration from the above-mentioned examples, or you can make your own sleep schedule.
Just make sure to add a good amount of balance between sleep time, nap time, and awake time. Doing this will ensure that your kid plays well and learns better every day.
