Toddler's Bedtime?

Question

What is a good bedtime for an 18 month old?

How do I begin to adjust bedtime from 9:30pm?

How many hours of sleep are needed at this age?

THANK YOU!

Current bedtime: 9:30pm

Wake Up: 6:30am

Naptime: 2 hrs (One nap) 11am-1pm

Answer 1

To adjust a child's bedtime, just start moving the time back 15 - 30 minutes a night. A child this age will not be very logical. The child may not notice if they are getting ready to go to bed earlier than usual. If it seems like this is going to be hard to pull off, use the famous kitchen timer trick. Start today by telling the child that you will set the timer to time events - for you it will mean 5 more minutes of play, 10 minutes until clean up - but when the bell goes off then stick to your promise and do the action.

By learning that the timer says it is time to do something that magically removes the mean mommy from saying no, or time to stop an activity, or time to go to bed.

So, when bedtime approaches, use the timer to signal the start of your bedtime routine. Then stick to the routine - which helps your child to know what to expect and the order in which things come.

You won't be able to make huge changes in a week - but if you can slowly wean your child to an earlier bedtime, a half an hour a week will be like a miracle for you.

Another item that may help is to make sure your child gets good activity that will wear them down and make sleep come easier. Don't make it too close to bedtime - that will just wind your child up and make settling down more difficult.

A good bedtime routine - clean up toys, change into pajamas, brush teeth, kiss toys goodnight, crawl into bed, read or tell a story.

11-12 hours sleep is good. bedtime anytime at night that 12 hours opposite you want to see them wake up the next morning.

good luck

Answer 2

Hi. I have a 24 month old and 12 month old and I have found that any later than 7:30 bedtime makes them so tired. We have stuck to a routine of going to bed by 7pm and they usually wake up after 6am regardless of what time they actually fall asleep! They sleep from around 12:30 to 2:30 pm each day. I would say that waking up at 1pm and then not going to sleep until 9:30 would make a very tired little one. I agree with what others say and adjust the time gradually if you can. Have dinner earlier if possible (say around 5pm?) and then a bath before 6. That leaves time for some quiet time and stories before bed.
Hope that helps a bit, and good luck!

Answer 3

My 17 month old son goes at 7pm each night. No matter what time he goes to sleep, he's up each morning at 5:30 and takes a nap for about an hour an a half each day.

You can adjust his bedtime by going through the bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier every few nights.

At this age, they need 10-12 hours of sleep.

Answer 4

I just read in Parent & Child magazine that children between the ages of 1 and 6 need 10-12 hours of sleep per day. A good bedtime will depend on what time things happen in your household. If you get up at 6 A.M then your child will need an early bedtime but if your child can just wake up when he or she pleases then the bedtime can be later. If you want to adjust a bedtime, continue to put your child to bed 15 minutes earlier everyday until you get to the time that you want. My child at that age always went to bed between 8 and 9.

Answer 5

Needs around 14 hours daily. If nap is around 1PM, I would try bedtime of 9 pm for a week then start 15 minutes earlier to whatever time you want depending on your preferred schedule. My son is 23 mos and goes to bed at 9 pm, up at 7 or 8 am and a 2 hr nap at 2 pm. If I try to put him to bed earlier, it's a fight and doesn't seem worth it. Occasionally he has no nap, but won't get up any later or go to be any earlier. Hope that helps.

Answer 6

9 o clock .u can adjust his bedtime from 9:30-9:00 by giving him his supper 45 mins before than u usually do and send him to bed after brushing the teeth.go to his room with him and read him a small bedtime story and switch off the light .be with the kid until he sleeps. he should sleep around 10 hrs in night and a little nap of 45-60 mins during the noon.

Answer 7

Be aware that if you put him to bed earlier, he may get up earlier. If that's not a problem, do your usual bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier for a week, then another 15 minutes earlier. The one thing that made the biggest difference in getting my children to bed was TURNING THE TV OFF. They would not go to sleep if others were still up were watching - the laugh track trickled under the door and they felt they were missing all the fun. With the sound on headhphones or no TV for a short time they fell asleep quickly and then it could be turned back on.

Answer 8

Depends on naps. If a child is getting;
1 nap- 1-2 hours during day then he needs 11-13 hours of sleep at night.
2 naps- 1-2 hours each, then he needs 10-12 hours at night.

Answer 9

I think 7:30 is good. Start slowly by adjusting his bedtime to earlier. It will also mess up the mornings though, and then maybe affect his nap. There is a GREAT book called "Solve your Child's Sleep Problems" by Richard Ferber and it's the best!! He talks about this exact problem and how to fix it. I refer to the book all the time and my daughter doesn't even really have any sleep problems, but he has great advice! See if your local library has it. Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Solve-Your-Childs-Sleep-Problems/dp/0671620991

Answer 10

I'm not clear on why you're asking this question.

Like most mammals, toddlers will sleep extraordinarily long hours, if allowed to (and, of course, if he/she doesn't get hungry or need diaper changes!). I've never heard of a toddler being "allowed" to sleep as long as 9:30pm, much less being able to do so, so I have to ask: What's the real issue, here?

Is the child not reacting well to his/her current bedtime?
Does he/she seem restless, cranky, or overtired
during the day, or is he/she oversleeping?

You need to discuss this with your parents, friends, or pediatrician, not strangers.

Good luck!