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.
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