Daily Routines + Samples: 19 Months to 4 Years
Toddlerhood is a whirlwind no matter how you slice it or dice it, and keeping up with your child’s changing needs for awake time and sleep can be a challenge. It’s helpful and necessary to evaluate these needs regularly, every few months, to make sure your routine is still dialed in.
At this age, your child may be more communicative about what they want or don’t want in regards to sleep and being awake, but we want to balance this with what we as parents know is best for them. Remember that sleep goes best when parents are making the decisions rather than the child.
As always, we want to consider three things when creating a predictable routine that works for your family:
Your child’s age
The recommended amount of meals, awake time, and sleep your child needs at their age/stage
Your family’s rhythm and needs
Below you’ll find recommendations and sample schedules for ages 19 months through 4 years that you can tailor to your unique child and family.
Daily Routines + Samples: 0-9 Months | Daily Routines + Samples: 10-18 Months
Ages 19-23 Months
By 19 months, most children are taking 1 nap a day and are on a very steady routine that will last them until they stop napping entirely. The nap might vary length, but bedtime will stay fairly steady.
Here is a sample routine for 19-23 months.
Note: These samples are not meant to serve as cookie-cutter schedules for each age and must be tailored to your individual child’s needs.
Ages 2-4 Years
Don’t let your 2 year old fake you out—they still need a nap! I recommend keeping the nap until at least age 3, if not until age 4 or 5, since most children need the nap to thrive and to make it to a reasonable bedtime.
Around age 3, some children might need less daytime sleep, and some might stop napping entirely. Continue to offer the nap even if they only take one nap once a week.
By age 4 or 5, many children will begin to not need their nap and will regularly refuse it. If they do take a nap, it means that bedtime is pushed very late, and, even then, it might take well over an hour for them to fall asleep. In those cases, when they are refusing the nap for 2 or more weeks and can tolerate being awake until a reasonable bedtime (7pm or later), it might be time to move on from the nap. It’s a great idea to transition to quiet time, offering them that mid-day rest in lieu of a nap.
For 4-5 year olds who are still napping, let them do so, but limit how long they nap in order to promote a healthy, restorative amount of night sleep (10 hours minimum).
Here are sample routines for 2, 3, and 4 years (which could be used for some 5 year olds as well).
Note: These samples are not meant to serve as cookie-cutter schedules for each age and must be tailored to your individual child’s needs.
A Final Note
Remember that these are simply examples, not meant to be followed to the letter. No child will ever follow a schedule to the minute (or even the hour!). The more you can allow for a balance of flexibility and consistency, the better your child will adapt to any routine.
If sleep seems like the impossible mountain you cannot climb, and you need an experienced guide to help, please know that I am here to help you. For help with nap transitions and dropping the nap entirely, consider booking an Ask Me Anything session with me anytime, or reach out to find out what service will best meet your needs.
Please note that I am not a medical professional, and this blog post is not meant to serve as medical advice, a diagnosis, or any form of treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your child’s pediatrician.
