Sleep Schedule for 1 Year Old (12-23 months)

By 12 months, most babies transition to a two-nap schedule. This typically looks like one morning nap and one afternoon nap. Some babies might still be on three short naps, but a consistent two-nap schedule is the common goal around this age. Pay attention to your baby's cues to determine if they are ready for this change.

Fighting the afternoon nap can be a sign of overtiredness or undertiredness. Ensure your baby has a consistent wake window before the afternoon nap, and that the morning nap wasn't too long or too close to the afternoon nap. A dark, quiet room, a calming pre-nap routine, and a consistent bedtime can also help. If they consistently refuse, it might be a sign they are ready to drop a nap, but usually this happens closer to 15-18 months. For now, try to keep the routine consistent, even if the nap is shorter.

Short naps, often called 'cat naps,' are quite common at 1 year old. Babies at this age are still learning to connect their sleep cycles. Ensuring the sleep environment is optimal (dark, cool, quiet) and establishing a consistent, calming pre-nap routine can encourage longer stretches of sleep. It's also important to avoid intervening too quickly if they stir, as they might be able to resettle themselves.

A typical two-nap schedule for a 1-year-old might look something like this: Morning nap around 9:30-10:30 AM and an afternoon nap around 1:30-2:30 PM. The exact timing will depend on your baby's wake-up time and their individual sleep needs. Aim for wake windows of approximately 3-4 hours between sleep periods.

Yes, nighttime wakefulness can often be linked to naps. If naps are too short, too long, too late in the day, or if your baby is overtired due to insufficient daytime sleep, it can disrupt their nighttime sleep. Ensure naps are age-appropriate and that there's a reasonable wake window before bedtime. Consistency in both nap and bedtime routines is key to establishing healthy sleep patterns.