Five toddler sleep milestones to prepare for
Most parents spend a lot of time researching baby sleep, searching topics like how long should my baby’s awake windows be, how can I drop a night feed, and how can I make naps longer?
However, as our babies get older and their sleep starts to become more consistent, we gradually start researching less and less.
But if you are currently parenting a toddler, you have likely discovered that this stage comes with its own set of unique challenges and milestones. And if you’re not quite there yet, here are five toddler sleep milestones to prepare for...
18 months- 2 years: Exchange the sleep sack for a blanket.
Before age 1, using a blanket is definitely not recommended because of the risk of SIDS. During colder months, the best and safest thing to do instead is to use a sleep sack. However around 18 months or 2 years, you can begin giving your toddler a blanket to sleep with. We recommend starting out with a blanket with holes, such as an afghan, to ensure safe sleep. Some parents may prefer to continue using a sleep sack, but we recommend making the switch to a blanket so that your toddler has more mobility as he/she nears age 2. Even though we never really want our kids climbing out of their crib, it’s still an important milestone in their gross motor development (and one of the signs that it’s time to transition to a toddler bed - more on that below)!
2 years+: Introduce a pillow.
When you reach this step, make sure you are starting them off with a toddler-sized pillow! We recommend Moonlight’s Little Dreamer Toddler Pillow. It’s the perfect size for their little heads and comes with an 100% organic cotton cover.
Around 3 years: Transition to a toddler bed.
Because all children reach developmental milestones at various ages, there isn’t a magic number that determines when it’s time to transition out of the crib. However,as a guideline, Happiest Baby says that “over 90% of 18-month-olds sleep in a crib, but that gradually drops to about 80% at 2 years and 40% by 3 years of age.”
Our article “How and when to transition to toddler bed” covers this topic in full, but here are the basic signs to look out for:
Your toddler is physically able to climb or jump out of the crib.
Your toddler has recently reached other developmental milestones (such as increased verbal communication or potty training).
Your toddler is asking for a new bed.
Your toddler seems uncomfortable in their space.
Your toddler is nearing age 3.
There are also several safety issues to take into consideration when switching to a bed that your child can easily get out of, found in this article.
3.5-4 years: Drop the last nap.
The transition from 1 to 0 naps can actually linger on for many months, and we usually see children drop their nap completely around 3.5/4 years old.
Many parents ask if it is too early to drop the nap at age two, and in our opinion, it IS way too early! Parents will often think it’s time to drop the nap altogether when they notice their toddler starts taking a shorter nap or is able to go some days without it.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to say goodbye to the nap forever! If your little one starts taking shorter naps, try adjusting their nap time to make sure there is adequate sleep pressure built up before the nap to help ensure your child is tired enough to nap. Generally, a child on a one-nap schedule should be going down somewhere between 11:30am and 1pm and up by no later than 3pm for a 7pm bedtime.
If you’re not sure whether your toddler is on track to drop the nap, or whether their schedule just needs some adjusting, check out Five signs your child is ready to drop a nap.
When the nap is dropped: Introduce quiet time.
Even when the nap does finally get dropped, it doesn’t mean that your child won’t still have days they need a nap. We encourage you to still give your child “quiet time” for at least one hour once the nap has been dropped, up until 5-5.5 years old. Whether they choose to read, play quietly, or fall asleep during that quiet time is up to them!
Our quiet time tips:
Prepare a space dedicated for quiet time. For most children, their room can be that space, but for older children it could also be a cozy corner in the home that they can claim as theirs. You just want to ensure that the space is free from distraction and light, if possible.
Communicate to your child what is acceptable for quiet time. Our recommendation is for quiet time to be activities like reading, quiet play, coloring, or even laying in bed. What you don’t want quiet time to become is screen time or time spent on devices.
Use a timer. An ok-to-wake clock is a great device to use to help your child stay in their room for their designated quiet time. Here are our favorite brands, all of which can use different colors to represent things like wake-up time, naptime, quiet time, and bedtime.
By preparing in advance for some of these milestones, you are much more likely to manage these transitions with ease. Remember that every toddler is different and will experience these transitions differently and at various times, and that’s okay!
For more helpful tips, check out our new toddler sleep course!
Related articles:
Five toddler sleep challenges to expect & what to do about them
Tips for siblings sharing a room
How to overcome the bedtime battle
10 of our favorite toddler products for sleep & play
