Sleep Training Help for Eighteen Month Old to Two and a Half Year Old Child

The average sleep time for an 18 month old is 11 ¼ hours of nighttime sleep and about a 2 ¼ hour nap during one afternoon nap.  By 2 years old, the length of time drops by 15 minutes for both nighttime and nap.  By the time your child is 2 ½, the average sleep time will drop to 10 ½ hours at night and 1 ½ hours during the daytime nap.  Variations to these times can occur but they should not be by much.  You should be able to determine if your child needs more sleep by his or her behavior during the day.

At this age, your child is starting to learn how to follow directions; however, bedtime can be a challenge because they are also learning at this age to test their limits!  At this age, they are very eager to explore the world that they are getting to know and be so curious about which can lead to a lot of boundary breaking.  You’ll likely see them crawl, climb, crash, stand up on furnishings, knock things down, climb out of their crib…  Parents have to remember, though that they still rely on you to set their boundaries and keep them safe and secure. 

They are speaking more and learning more words at this age, yet remember – they understand more than they can say which can lead to tantrums from frustration.  Surely you’ll notice that their new favorite words are “no”, “I do”, and/or “mine!” and they can become very possessive with their toys – and their mommy (or daddy).  Kids this age love to try and stall or negotiate and for some reason this happens mostly around bedtime!

You may even notice that your child may suddenly be scared of the dark, monsters in the closet, or even thunder.  Your child may begin having nightmares or night terrors (this can be an ongoing problem for several years for some.)  Another thing that can put a kink in the bedtime routine and the child’s behavior is potty training; the key is to try and keep the training as a cooperative venture rather than a battle of the wills.  It’s essential to be consistent, predictable, and soothing with your bedtime routine. 

• 7:00 to 7:30 am – Wake up time; have breakfast.
• 12 to 12:30 pm – Lunch time.
• 12:30 to 1:00 pm – Begin the one afternoon naptime.
• 5:00 to 5:30 pm – Dinner time.
• 6:00 to 6:30 pm – Begin the bath & bedtime routine.
• 7:00 to 8:00 pm – Time for bed.

You may find that your child insists that everything be done in the same order every night and nothing be left out, so make sure that your routine at bedtime is one that is manageable. Once they turn 2, you’ll notice they will try delaying bedtime and some kids may stall as much as possible. If you find that your child is frequently getting up or screaming for “one more kiss” or to be “tucked in” again, respond only once. If it happens a second time (very likely), be calm but firm and respond with “No more tuck-ins. It’s time to go to sleep now.” Stand your ground because if you give in and say “Okay, but this is the last time…” then you’re just letting your child know that if she begs and bugs you enough, you’ll give in and she’ll get what she wants.

Sometimes parents feel that it should always be the same parent that puts the child to bed so as not to vary from the routine, but it is okay for mom and dad to alternate.  It’s even okay if the routine varies slightly.  It’s essential, however, to make sure that you be consistent with when bedtime occurs and how you deal with the tactics for stalling and delaying bedtime.

As they become preschool age, they may be able to skip an occasional nap and not completely melt down.  Don’t let this fool you into thinking that your child has outgrown naps, though – most kids do need an hour to an hour and a half of nap time most days until they are about three and a half to four years old, and some children beyond that. 

Many children this age begin to climb out of their crib. Parents need to understand that until the child is at least two and a half (three is even more preferable), he does not really have the capacity to fully understand the rules of the “big bed.” You should try and keep your child in his crib as long as possible. A few things that you can try to keep your child from getting hurt are:

• Lower the height of the crib mattress as low as it will go.
• Place pillows on the ground around the crib to cushion a potential fall.
• Take out any toys or stuffed animals that are in the crib that can possibly be used to step on to aid climbing.
• If he or she manages to climb out of the crib, return him or her to the crib with minimal interaction – simply say “No climbing.”
• At bedtime, stay close and peek into the room – if you see a leg raised to climb, say “No climbing.”
• Install a crib tent that is made of a mesh material – you can even decorate it to put a positive spin on it.
• Put a “sleep sack” on him, then he won’t be able to lift him leg up to climb out!