It can be hard to find a good schedule that works for your child and your specific situation. It doesn’t have to be too intimidating though when you have a place to start and know what direction to take. Some people assume that there is only one right schedule that is supposed to be implemented and if your child isn’t on that certain schedule, you must be doing something wrong. That is NOT the case!
Each mother is in tune to her children’s needs and when it comes down to it, she needs to be comfortable with how she raises her children. That being said, I have provided a few pieces of big advice to help mothers determine the most ideal daily schedule for their toddlers.
- Take a couple weeks to pay attention to the child’s natural tendencies of when he or she wakes up, gets tired or hungry and write the times down.
- Mothers should start to notice patterns and consistencies in the toddler’s behavior and be able to project when the toddler will wake up, the next meal time or when the toddler will get tired for naps and bedtime.
- Don’t miss the window of opportunity!
- Be aware of the toddler’s cue’s so the best window of opportunity for meals, snacks and sleep is being used and not delayed. It’s important not to let the toddler get over tired or over hungry if possible to eliminate tantrums and meltdowns. The goal should be to make the daily transitions go as smoothly as possible with a happy toddler.
- After following the two steps above, a daily toddler schedule will start to appear naturally.
- The naturally developed schedule is best for the child because it is going off of that specific child’s needs instead of forcing something that isn’t the best fit. One schedule may work wonderfully for one child, but may be a disaster for another.
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!
- Consistency is key and will help the child feel comfortable and stay on a good internal clock. The more you can stay on the naturally identified schedule, the happier the child.
Below, is the schedule I use for my own toddler who is 18 months old and have found that it works really well. I have used the below schedule since my son was 15 months old and plan to continue following it until he decides to switch things up on me. The schedule I provided is a sample of what parents can use as a reference or to help them shape their own toddler’s daily schedules. Sometimes it’s nice to see an example to know what patterns to look for in their own toddlers.
I need to warn you that children’s schedules naturally change over time and it would be helpful for the children and for the parents to be able to adapt and make changes when needed. Identifying a schedule and sticking to it is very important, but making refinements along the way and being open to a new schedule months down the road should be expected. Just as we grow out of a pair of shoes and need a new pair, children need the same with updated schedules and routines as they grow.
I also wanted to provide exceptions that will likely surface after naturally identifying a daily toddler schedule.
- Children not feeling well
- When children are unwell and not feeling great whether that be the result of teething, sickness or pain, the schedule will be thrown off and that’s okay. When situations like this arise, it’s important to be there for your children and show them genuine love and care. If children are not feeling the best, it’s best to adapt and help them get back to their healthy selves and not worrying too much about sticking to the schedule perfectly.
- Doctors appointments, spontaneous outings, travel, visitors and other occasions will throw off the schedule and that’s okay.
- It’s almost impossible to keep to the same schedule every day and to be honest, it’s healthy to switch it up every now and then. However, sticking to the schedule as often as possible will benefit most parents and children.
- Some children do well and actually thrive without a consistent schedule.
- If that’s the case and the child is happy and seems to be healthy, there is no need to force a schedule. However, I would still be aware of the hunger and sleep cues the child gives so the window of opportunity before the meltdown is captured.
After taking time to observe the child throughout each day to notice if there are any patterns, parents will soon find a schedule that works best for the child’s needs. Also, remember to stay patient and realize there will be days where the schedule is thrown out the window for one case or another and that’s okay! Mothers can only do their best and should know they are always special to their children.
I hope this was helpful!