Evie Summers
Establishing healthy sleep habits for your 18-month-old toddler can be challenging, but it's an important step in their development. At this age, toddlers are experiencing significant growth and learning about their ability to impact the world, which can influence their sleep patterns. While there's no one-size-fits-all sleep schedule, understanding the typical sleep habits and challenges at this stage can help you navigate this transitional phase in your toddler's sleep journey.
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Sleep regression
At 18 months, your child is well into the toddler stage, marked by rapid changes in their physical abilities, cognitive skills, and emotional evolution. Sleep regression at this age can be attributed to several factors, including:
- Resistance to bedtime due to increased independence or overstimulation in the evening.
- Restlessness related to expanded mobility and physical abilities.
- Discomfort from teething.
- Separation anxiety, which is common around 18 months as children crave independence but still seek reassurance and security from their parents.
- Transition to a one-nap schedule.
During this time, it is important to remain consistent with healthy sleep habits and ensure your child is well-rested, fed, and in a safe sleep environment. Teaching your toddler independent sleep skills and self-soothing techniques can also help improve sleep quality and duration.
While sleep regression can be challenging for both children and parents, it is a normal part of development, and these issues are typically temporary.
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Separation anxiety
At 18 months old, your toddler is likely to be settling into a more predictable sleep schedule, napping just once a day. At this age, they should be getting around 13-14 hours of sleep per day. However, it is important to remember that there is a range of normal sleep needs, and your child's schedule may vary.
At this age, your child should be able to fall asleep on their own at night without being rocked, nursed, or lulled to sleep by other external cues, such as music. If your child becomes dependent on these external cues, they may struggle to fall back to sleep during the night when they wake up and the cues are not present.
It is common for 18-month-old toddlers to experience separation anxiety, which can impact their sleep habits. Separation anxiety can cause increased clinginess and crying, especially when you are initiating the separation, such as when you put your toddler down for a nap or bedtime or when you leave the room. Your toddler may also start taking short naps or suddenly struggle to fall asleep at nap time due to separation anxiety.
To help your toddler through separation anxiety and improve their sleep habits:
- Be consistent with healthy sleep habits, even during periods of sleep regression or rough patches.
- Practice being apart from each other and introduce new people and places slowly. Invite a relative or new babysitter over in advance so they can spend time with your toddler while you're still in the room.
- Provide extra time in the morning to get ready for school or daycare to avoid rushing, which can make transitions or separations more difficult.
- Use loveys or comfort objects to provide a sense of security during stressful transitions. However, wait until your toddler is at least 12 months old before introducing a lovey or comfort object in the crib.
- Have intentional 1-on-1 time with your toddler to help them adjust to big transitions or changes.
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Screen time
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months old. This is because children under this age cannot translate what they see on a two-dimensional screen into the physical world. For children 18 months and older, the AAP advises that some screen time is acceptable, but it should be limited to about an hour per day at most. Other sources, like the World Health Organisation (WHO), recommend no screen time for children under the age of two.
Research has shown that excessive screen time during infancy may lead to changes in brain activity and problems with executive functioning, focus, and control in elementary school. Studies have also found that children with more screen time tend to have poorer scores on language and thinking tests, lower communication and cognitive abilities, and higher BMI. The addictive nature of screens is also a concern, with some studies showing that higher screen time is linked to attention and hyperactivity difficulties, lower self-esteem, and depression in older children.
However, it is important to note that not all screen time is created equal. Video chats, such as FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype, are considered okay for children of all ages, even babies as young as six months old. This is because they provide real-time interactions and serve-and-return conversations that are beneficial for learning and bonding. Additionally, when parents engage with their children during screen time, it can help mitigate some of the negative impacts.
To reduce the potential negative effects of screen time, it is recommended to schedule plenty of non-screen activities, such as playtime, hands-on learning, interacting with caregivers and friends, and physical activity. It is also important to avoid screen time before bedtime, as the blue light from screens can interrupt sleep, and to keep screens out of the bedroom.
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Sleep training
At 18 months old, toddlers are well into the toddler stage and are learning about their ability to impact the world. This can cause some sleep struggles as they realize their power. At this age, toddlers should be able to fall asleep on their own at night without being rocked, nursed, or lulled to sleep by external cues. If they depend on these external cues, they won't be able to fall back to sleep during the night when they wake up and the cues are not there.
Toddlers at this age typically need around 13-14 hours of total sleep per day, including a nap during the day. It is common for toddlers to experience sleep regression, where they may become more wakeful, resist naps, or have trouble going to bed. This could be due to various factors such as illness, teething, travel, or developmental milestones.
- Gradual Approach: This method involves making gradual changes to sleep habits over time. For example, you may swap nursing for rocking your toddler to sleep, then transition to patting them to sleep, and eventually moving yourself out of the room (the "chair method") until they fall asleep independently. This process can take a few weeks but is a gentle way to sleep train.
- Cry-It-Out (CIO): This method involves physically distancing yourself from your child and reducing the amount of reassurance given. You place your toddler into their crib awake and remove yourself from the room, implementing timed "check-ins" at gradually increasing intervals. This approach may take a few nights for your toddler to understand the new routine, but it can be effective in teaching them to self-soothe and fall asleep independently.
- Predictability and Routines: Establishing consistent pre-sleep routines can cue your toddler that it's time for sleep. A bedtime routine may take 30-45 minutes, while a naptime routine may be shorter at 5-10 minutes. Stick to these routines and be patient as it takes time for new habits to form.
- Address Feeding Habits: Feeding habits can impact sleep training. While it is not necessary to wean your toddler from night feeds, it is an option that may help consolidate their sleep. If you choose to night wean, ensure your toddler is not in the midst of a regression, teething, ill, or experiencing severe separation anxiety.
- Consistency: Consistency is key when sleep training. Stick to your chosen method and be patient as it may take a few nights or even weeks for your toddler to adjust. Remember that progress can be up and down, with some setback nights, but remain persistent and your toddler should eventually adapt to the new sleep habits.
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Sleep schedule
At 18 months, your toddler's sleep pattern may start to consolidate into one afternoon nap, although some children may still take two shorter naps. The total daytime sleep should ideally be around 2 to 3 hours. If your child is taking short naps, they may still be adjusting to the one-nap schedule, and it can take time for the naps to lengthen. A consistent pre-nap routine, a full tummy, enough awake time before the nap, and a dark and quiet sleep space can encourage longer rest during the day.
The bedtime for an 18-month-old is typically recommended between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. A consistent bedtime routine can help your toddler prepare for sleep. This routine can include activities such as a diaper change, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, reading a book, and snuggling. It is also beneficial to avoid screens in the hour before bedtime as the blue light from electronic devices can interfere with melatonin production, making it harder for your child to fall asleep.
Additionally, it's important to be mindful of potential sleep disruptions, such as teething or separation anxiety. Teething can cause discomfort, but you can help ease this by wiping away drool, providing cold fruit or a washcloth to chew on, or using baby-safe teething rings. Separation anxiety can also impact sleep, and it's important to gradually encourage independent playtime to help your child feel more comfortable being alone.
Remember, these guidelines are flexible, and you should adjust them to suit your child's unique needs. Every child is different, and their sleep patterns can vary. By observing their cues and maintaining a consistent routine, you can help your 18-month-old establish healthy sleep habits.
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Frequently asked questions
Between the ages of 1 and 2, most toddlers need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep per day, including one or two daytime naps. At 18 months, the goal is to aim for 12 to 14 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period, with 10 to 12 hours of overnight sleep and 2 to 3 hours of daytime sleep.
Sleep regression is common at 18 months, and can manifest as difficulty falling asleep, separation anxiety, frequent night wakings, nightmares, and night terrors. Toddlers may also start climbing out of their cribs, which can be dangerous.
To help your toddler sleep better, establish a consistent bedtime routine, including soothing activities in soft lighting, and ensure a full tummy, enough awake time before nap, and a dark, quiet sleep space. You can also offer a lovey, such as a small soft blanket or stuffed animal, for comfort.
It is common for toddlers to transition from two naps to one at this age. If your toddler is resisting their morning nap, they may be ready for just an afternoon nap. Ensure they have a full tummy and enough awake time before the nap, and consider waking them within the same 30-minute window each day to regulate their body clock.
