Schedule / Routine
Updated 10/18/19
I regularly get questions from readers about how to create a good sample daily toddler schedule. While not every toddler is the same, I do think it’s very helpful to see what other moms are doing in their homes. Five stay-at-home moms were asked to share their schedules.
So I use the word “real” intentionally because these are not schedules from a book about what someone thinks you should do, theses are actual real schedules that moms are currently using.
It’s a great way to gauge your own toddler’s schedule and find inspiration to try new things. All of these schedules are simply meant to be an approximate guide for other moms. You could structure the day for your toddler completely different, and have it work equally as well! So if you don’t think this will work well for your toddler or your family, that’s okay too!
Related: 2 Year Old Sleep Regression Explained. Why It Happens and Solutions.
And please remember, that all of these schedules are approximate times. All the moms sharing a sample schedule, also agreed that they “flex” their schedules each day to meet the needs of their toddlers and their families.
Sample daily toddler schedule for 19 month old girl
- 8:30 am Wake up, eat breakfast.
- 9:00 am Playtime
- 11:00 am Lunch
- 11:30 am Reading time
- 12:00 pm Nap
- 3:00 pm Wake up, snack.
- 3:30 pm Play until dinner
- 6:00 pm Dinner
- 7:00 pm Bedtime routine
- 7:30 pm Bedtime
Sample daily toddler schedule for 21 month old boy
- 7:00 am Wake up, eat breakfast
- 8:30 am Independent play in toddler room
- 9:30 am Snack, playtime with mom or play groups
- 11:30 am Lunch
- 12:30 pm Nap
- 3:00 pm Wake up, snack
- 3:30 pm Park time or play outside
- 5:30 pm Dinner
- 7:00 pm Bedtime routine
- 7:30 pm Bedtime
Sample daily toddler schedule for 30 month old boy
- 7:30 am Wake up. Read and play.
- 8:15 am Breakfast
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 1:30 pm Nap
- 3:00 pm Nap ends
- 3:15 pm Snack
- 5:45 pm Dinner
- 7:15 pm Get ready for bed
- 7:30 pm Reading with mom or dad
- 8:00 pm Bed
Sample daily toddler schedule for 38 month old girl
- 7:45 am Wake up, breakfast, get ready
- 8:30 am Activity lesson
- 9:15 am Park time
- 10:00 am Playtime at home
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 1:30 pm Nap time
- 4:30 pm Wake up, snack
- 6:00 pm Dinner
- 7:30 pm Bath
- 8:00 pm Bedtime routine, books, prayers
- 8:30 pm Bedtime
Sample daily toddler schedule for 18 month old boy AND 32 month old boy
- 7:30 am Wake up, diaper change, breakfast
- 8:30 am Craft or preschool activities, more structured play
- 9:30 am Independent playtime
- 10:30 am Snack, free play inside and as much outside time as we can manage
- 12:00 pm Eat lunch
- 1:00 pm Nap
- 3:30 pm Up from nap, small snack, some screen time and then free play
- 5:15 pm Dinner time
- 6:00 pm Bath time
- 6:30pm Wind down to bed including reading books, brushing teeth, snuggles and hugs
- 7:15 pm Bedtime
Bonus: Sample toddler schedule for working moms taking their child to daycare.
- 6:00 am Wake up / Wash Hands / Breakfast / Vitamin
- 6:30pm Brush Teeth / Dress
- 7:00am Drop off to Daycare
- 7:00am-9:00am Play
- 9:00am Wash Hands / Snack & Milk (6 oz.)
- 9:15am-10:30am Play
- 10:30am-11:00am Wash Hands / Lunch
- 11:00am-2:00pm Nap**
- 2:00pm-3:30pm Play
- 3:30pm Wash Hands / Snack / Milk (6 oz.)
- 3:45pm-5:00pm Play
- 6:00pm Pick up from Day Care
- 6:00pm-6:30pm Wash Hands / Dinner / Milk (6 oz.)
- 6:30pm-7:00pm Brush Teeth / Bath / Lotions
- 7:00pm-7:30pm Story & Bedtime
**3 hour nap: From a care providers perspective, this includes the routine of getting ready for nap AND the time it takes to fall asleep. Toddlers typically sleep anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours in the mid-day. If you’re struggling with your child fighting bedtime or waking up too early, consider shortening nap time to 1.5 hours, which is usually about 2 complete sleep cycles.
How much sleep do toddlers really need?
No matter the approximate sleep schedule for your toddler, most children ages 2-3 need about 12 – 14 hours of sleep per day. Some less, some more, but for the most part, this is pretty consistent with all the schedules shared for this post. Some toddlers may sleep more during the night and have a shorter nap, while others may sleep less at night and take a longer nap.
Find 20+ printable daily schedules for baby, toddler and kids ages 0 – 5 in our eBook and printable pack Routines, Rhythms and Schedules.
If you’re looking for all things routine, check out our Ultimate Daily Routine Bundle with checklists, visual routine cards, chore cards, baby routine cards and the routines book.
All-in-all 12 – 14 hours per day for a toddler is a great goal to reach for!
When is the ideal nap time for a toddler?
One of the things that I’ve always found in all my sleep “research” is that having a toddler wake up approximately 4 hours before bedtime seems to be the sweet spot. I’ve also found that having a toddler take a nap approximately 1 hour after lunch seems to be another sweet spot. So if you can find a nice balance along those time ranges, it can help with a successful nap time.
What is the ideal wake up time and bedtime for a toddler?
Again, one of the things that you typically find sleep experts to recommend is a wake up time between 6-8 am and a bedtime between 6-8 pm. All of your choices may fall around what works best for your family. For example, if your toddler needs to wake up early (6 am) to get to daycare on time, you may find more success with an earlier bedtime (6:30 pm). If your family needs more evening time together, or one parent gets home from work late, you may appreciate a later (8 pm) bedtime if your toddler is able to sleep a bit later in the morning (7:30 or 8 am).
How to incorporate independent playtime into your toddler’s schedule.
I am often asked how we helped our toddler to learn to play alone for an hour each day. If you are a busy stay-at-home mom, this can be a very helpful way to get more things done during the day, while at the same time, teaching your child independence. While my son plays alone, I get as much done as possible, and the remainder of the day, I am able to fully engage him.
Here is how you can get started with a baby (yes, you can start in small blocks of time!)
Here is how you can get started with a toddler
How to incorporate routines into your toddler’s schedule.
Routines are a great way to minimize nagging, reminding, and yelling at toddlers throughout the day! You can use routines by simply following the same series or steps before a meal, activity, or sleep time. Toddlers (and kids of any age really) learn what is expected of them, and routines also help toddlers feel a sense of control over the day to day stuff.
You would think routines would make them feel less control. Not true. For toddlers the sense of control comes in the form of mastery (knowing how to do a routine well) and knowing what to expect (understanding they do the same thing each day).
Here are a few ways to incorporate routines…
- Pre-meal routine (wash hands, sit at the table, pray, etc)
- Pre-bedtime routine (bath, pajamas, quiet time/reading time, snack, pray, bed)
- Pre-independent play routine (get toys in the room read, set timer, hugs and kisses, etc)
Routines are usually meant to be simple and don’t need to take much time. You can even use these printable routine cards to get your toddler to follow a routine without help!
Ready to streamline your life with a toddler?
Creating a routine that worked well for our toddler brought so much peace to our home! I created a book and a FREE email series to help you create a more peaceful and happier home too!
Want more on toddlers?
- Dear Moms of Toddlers
- 2 Year Old Not Listening? Try This Remarkable Tip
- Frustrated with Discipling a 2 Year Old? Easy Strategies That Work
- Why a Stay-at-Home Mom Schedule Matters
- The Key to Creating a Successful Stay-at-Home Mom Schedule
Resources for toddler sleep:
- How to Handle Bedtime Tantrums
- How to Put a Toddler to Sleep Fast
- 3 Tricks for When Your Toddler Keeps Getting Out of Bed
- 7 Strategies for Toddler Tantrums at Bedtime
- 2 Year Old Sleep Regression Explained! Why It Happens and How to Fix It
- 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule That Helps Everyone Get More Sleep
- An Easy Morning & Bedtime Routine Chart That Keeps Kids On Task
- How to Respond When Your Child is Afraid to Sleep Alone
I've created a free email series just for you! If you are struggling with finding a routine, rhythm or schedule, this email series will help you find one that will work for YOUR family. Yes, really. I've seen my sample routines work time and time again for parents. I know it can work for you too.
This free email series will help you:
- free sample routine for your child
- learn one easy routine that will help you get more done (and keep your child happy)
- get simple hacks for managing the day with mulitple kids
- get a sneak peak at a book containing 25+ sample routines and schedules
Sign up here or click the image below!
Is it possible to get a hard copy of this book? I would love to give it to my daughter whom is expecting her first child.
Thank you for your service.
If you search for the book on Amazon, it is listed there and you should be able to get a paperback copy with a few simple clicks! Thanks for asking!
Hi!
I’m getting a solid 12 hours of sleep from my 16 month old, but I struggle to get longer than a 1.5 hour nap. She often wakes unhappy. Before, on two naps, she woke happy from both. Now, she only needs on but I feel lit should be longer.
Thanks,
Sierra
Yes. I can see why you would like her nap to be a bit longer. I’ve experienced the same struggle when my son was younger. I say, keep being consistent and hope it gets longer on its own. Transitioning to only one nap can take several months. Hang in there 🙂
I am having the same issue. It’s so hard. I was hoping to have 2-3 hr naps but now we are only getting 1.5. You think it will get better
A 16 month old only needs 11 – 14 hours of sleep total. If my 17 month old sleeps a full 12 hours at night she usually doesn’t even take a nap.
Nicole,
You’re absolutely right that every child is different and that for your child, 12 hours per sleep per day is enough. If she’s happy and content during the day, all signs point to her nighttime sleep as enough. Most toddlers need 12-14 per day WITH a nap. The main reason being their brain development is so rapid – over 1 million new neurons per SECOND. That is not a typo 🙂 Then later as they reach ages 4-5 their brain will start to “prune” and get rid of neurons that are not necessary. All that to say, when little brains are developing so quickly, it behoves both toddlers and caregivers to protect nap time so the 1 year old, 2 year old or 3 year old has adequate time to rest his or her brain.
Hi. I have 3 children. 2 boys and 1 girl. My girl is ten . My one boy is turning 5 in January and my youngest is 2 years and 4 months. We were very lucky with the middle child. he was as sweet as pie when he was still smaller. but the youngest one is were I am having trouble.
he stays at home at this moment with the nanny while the other 2 is in school. he started with tantrums and shouts. we are struck ling with sharing stuff and with the other kids. when they play outside with the ball he goes and take the ball from them. At night when we get home he starts shouting for everything. and just wants mommy for himself. I also am struck ling with potty training. he does not want to know anything about potty training. my husband also don’t understand the time out thing.
please can you give me some advise how to deal with this. especially the shouting and tantrums at night . and how to explain to my husband the correct why to deal with situations like this
Oh you are struggling with all the same things I am.
Elize,
Here are some posts on toddler discipline, potty training, and tantrums:
https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/discipline-2-year-old/
https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/tame-temper-tantrum/
https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/trying-stop-temper-tantrum/
I’d love to see a sample schedule for working moms who take their children to daycare or another care provider during the week!
6:00am Wakeup/Wash Hands/Breakfast/Vitamin
6:30pm Brush Teeth/Dress
7:00am Drop off to Day Care
7:00am-9:00am Play
9:00am Wash Hands/Snack & Milk (6 oz.)
9:15am-10:30am Play
10:30am-11:00am Wash Hands/Lunch
11:00am-2:00pm Nap
2:00pm-3:30pm Play
3:30pm Wash Hands/Snack/Milk (6 oz.)
3:45pm-5:00pm Play
6:00pm Pick up from Day Care
6:00pm-6:30pm Wash Hands/Dinner/Milk (6 oz.)
6:30pm-7:00pm Brush Teeth/Bath/Lotions
7:00pm-7:30pm Story & Bedtime
This is what we work toward every day. My daycare provider is a local mom, and she’s amazing. We sometimes end up going to be later because it’s such a small window of time between when I get home and when I would like to have dinner ready for everyone, and my son and husband trickle in at random times between 5-6pm, but generally this is it. Hope this helps!
A three hour nap??? Yea ok
A 3 hour nap: from a care providers perspective… would be the routine of getting ready for nap…the time it takes to fall asleep, toddlers typically sleep anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours in the mid day… sometime naps are broken up into 2 naps.. a morning nap and an after noon nap…with 2 naps toddlers will typically sleep anywhere from 45 minutes to -1.5 hours or even longer… If your baby is requiring more sleep… then allow some extra slumber time but of course keeping to their regular schedule… a routine is a good idea because life is full of routines and you are getting your toddler ready for life… school and what not… a schedule is much easier becuase then you can plan the rest of your daily events around the naps, playtime and meal times etc…
Thanks so much for the tips on setting a routine. I feel like I was struggling to really set a good routine with my kids until recently. I got inspired to do it. I’m still learning, but I’m excited to really stick to a routine with them. I think it’ll help a lot.
I need advice… my 21 month old does not nap… he wakes up at 8/830 then won’t go to sleep till 830/9.
The problem is he has so much energy that if I put him down for a nap about 1pm and he only sleeps an hour, his bedtime will change to 11pm as I can’t get him to sleep before!
Then I won’t get any relax evening time as I go to bed at 11pm but if I don’t let him have a nap I’m so exhausted I have to go bed same time. It’s a loose loose situation!
Please could someone advice me
My 20 month old daughter is doing the same thing. She wakes up at 8:30 -9am and goes to bed at 11 –
11:30pm. We went cold turkey on giving up the pacifier and now I can’t get her to fall asleep. She doesn’t want to be held or rocked to sleep. It’s been almost 2 weeks and we are still struggling at nap and bed time.
I sympathize. My eldest gave up naps when he turned to he sleeps about 12 hours per night (approx. 9am-9pm) and that’s all he needs. But he at least falls asleep quick and hard. His baby brother is the real struggle. He’s 10 months old and is such a light sleeper he wakes up constantly and can’t seem to find a consistent nap. He’s up around 8am and I aim for him to nap for a few hours around 2pm because any earlier has him falling asleep again in the evening between 5-7. Even with only one nap, he is up till 11 most nights. No reprieve for Mom!
my son used to sleep 12 hr plus nights , then 3 hours in morning nap and another 3 – 4 hours afternoon nap…. he is currently 3 years old and will sleep 12 hr nights or more, plus often will nap for anywhere from an hour to 3 or 4 hours in afternoon. !!
HI, this is very helpful as for toddlers routine is concerned, but how about mom’s routine? I am finding it very hard to get things done around the house trying to keep up with my 3 kids routine? sometimes i have to deviate from their routine just so i can clean the house. I got 3 kids 18mo, 3yo and 4.5yo. I also take the 4.5y to preK everyday at 8am and pick her up at 11am. so that throws everything off balance. my husband works most weekends and he is almost never off.
My 20 month old daughter is doing the same thing. She wakes up at 8:30 -9am and goes to bed at 11 –
11:30pm. We went cold turkey on giving up the pacifier and now I can’t get her to fall asleep. She doesn’t want to be held or rocked to sleep. It’s been almost 2 weeks and we are still struggling at nap and bed time.
My son is just shy of 15 months old and has been on a great schedule since we brought him home from the hospital thanks in large part to Babywise. Currently, he sleeps from 7:30-7 (sometimes he is up and chatting from 6:30-7 and/or on-and-off sleeping) and naps from 12-2 (days when he is at daycare his naps are shorter as the environment isn’t as conducive to napping as his room at home is!) or 3 (days we’re at home). We have always been so diligent about getting him up at 7 everyday. At what point in time can we start letting him “sleep in”? I’m not sure he’d sleep much past 7 since we’ve gotten him up at that time since he was born but it would be nice if he could play in his crib for another half hour or so in the mornings on the weekends (we will continue to wake him/get him up at 7 during the week as we have work and daycare). When he wakes up before 7 he is always very pleasant and chatty. Mostly we’re afraid of messing with the schedule/system that’s worked so well for us the past 15 months! Thanks for any insight
Hey Meg! Great question. It’s difficult to swing a 15 month old during the week and the weekends. I’m curious, is he normally waking on his own in the morning? That’s a great indicator that he is getting enough rest. If you are looking to snag a little extra time in the mornings on the weekend, you could place quiet toys in the crib (at 15 months a few age appropriate toys should be totally fine) so that he would have something to entertain himself with upon waking. This could buy you some time. Another thing that could help during the day with getting things done is independent playtime. You can find more info here: https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/starting-independent-play-late-long-hiatus/
Hi
My son is 21 months and he naps around 2-3 hours a day but he wakes up in middle of a night around 2am and just talks to himself and then falls sleep. How do I help him to not wake up in middle of the night? I was told to wean him off of his night time bottle of milk. Any suggestions?
He goes to bed around 7-7:30 and wakes up 8am. Nap time is usually around 12:30
I think the information here is for too much sleep and doesn’t coincide with anything I’ve read. Lots of different things could be going on with your child, but he could be naturally waking up at the end of one of his sleep cycles and then he just isn’t tired. I recommend reading Ferber’s book. It goes through a whole series of things that your child might be experiencing and helps you to identify which it is.
Hello! My son will be 2 in a few days. We really struggle with early wake ups with him (between 3:30-4:30 am every day). It’s been a year of this.
He goes to bed at 6:30. He naps for 2 hours on the dot (very good internal clock regarding nap I guess) and was doing nap at 10:45, but I’ve been trying to move it to 11:45 to 12:00. He is obviously very tired by this point being up at 4:30.
We have tried 7:00 bedtimes and 6:00 bedtimes, too.
I just can’t figure out what his schedule needs to be. Any suggestions?
Definitely a later bedtime. This summary is for high-average sleep need toddlers.
How do people get their toddler to sleep until 7:30 or 8 in the morning?? I feel like no matter what time I put my 2 1/2 year old twin boys to bed they’ve been waking up before 7. Tell me all the secrets lol
Hi Lori,
I’ve written about this a couple of times, and hopefully there are some ideas inside this post that will help with your toddler waking up too early:
https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/preschooler-toddler-waking-up-too-early/
Agree with April here, Holly, that I would start to move bedtime a bit later. Start by moving bedtime 15 minutes later each night and then see where his morning waking adjusts. Overall, he sounds like he’s getting around 12 hours of sleep per day and that he’s happy. If his temperament is mostly calm throughout the day, you can assume he’s getting enough rest.
You gave such fantastic samples of toddler schedules so that moms have a range of possibilities to see what works in their own family. That was helpful!
It’s so nice to see other people’s schedules. Figuring out a good schedule is hard. I like to see examples like this. Thanks!
Love that you added the realistic routine for when the days don’t go according to plan! This is great structure for a toddler.
It’s a nice blog and really helpfull. I have a 24month toddler, is it important to keep an activity every day or just play time until some more months .
Also i have a hard time for my baby, she doesn’t sleep in the afternoon at all, she used to sleep few months back, but now she doesn’t sleep, i have tried everything no luck.
Is there any suggestion.
Thanks
Suni
I wanted to include a “clean up toys” picture card on our evening routines for our toddlers. When have you all found it best to include the clean up toys (example: just before dinner, after dinner but before bath time)?