Sleep Through the Night and Naps

If you use the right 17 month old sleep schedule, your toddler is able to take 2-3-hour naps and sleep through the night for 11-12 hours! Most toddlers this age are taking one nap, sleeping through the night, and are night-weaned completely. This article will share everything you need to know about your 17 month old’s sleep schedule to help them sleep longer and be happier!

In this article:

How Much Sleep 17 Month Olds Need

The average 17 month old needs 13-14 hours of sleep per day including 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. At this age, toddlers are sleeping through the night and taking a single 2-3-hour nap.

Of course, some toddlers will need more or less than the average amount of sleep. So, if your toddler is sleeping more or less than the average in a 24-hour period, if they’re happy, it’s likely fine. The best way to know if your toddler is getting enough sleep is to look at their mood, behavior, and other signs of over-tiredness. Although toddler tantrums are common, overtired toddlers tend to have more of them.

17 Month Old Sleep Schedule Wake Windows and Awake Time

17-month wake windows, or awake time, are usually 5 hours both before and after their nap. Some toddlers this age can extend their wake windows to 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes.

Children who are sensitive to becoming overtired tend to have shorter wake windows. If you have to choose, it’s usually best to have a shorter wake window before bedtime unless your toddler is shorting their naps.

How Many Naps Should a 17 Month Old Take?

Most 17 month olds have already transitioned to just one nap per day. If your toddler doesn’t seem to be ready for just one nap, that’s okay! Instead, you can use the 14 month old sleep schedule. However, if your toddler is going to bed very late, staying awake for a long period in the middle of the night, and/or waking up too early in the morning, it’s very likely time to drop to one nap! This is true even if they are happily still taking two naps. In other words, if it’s not broken, no need to change it. However, if your schedule is not working for another reason, it’s likely time to transition to one nap.

There are only a few scenarios that might mean you should wake up your toddler from napping too long:

• If your 17 month old is napping for 2 to 3 hours each day and sleeping through the night: No, you should NOT wake them from their nap.
• If your toddler is waking up too early the next day such as 4 or 5 a.m. and sleeping less than 10 hours: Yes, you may want to wake them up from their long nap. Typically, that’s only necessary if they are napping for longer than 2.5 hours, though! However, if your toddler is sleeping for 10+ hours at night and waking up too early, you might simply want to shift their schedule forward, instead.
• If your toddler is awake in the middle of the night for an hour or longer: We call this “baby insomnia” or a split night. If your toddler is still taking two naps, this is a sign it is probably time to drop a nap (see above). If your toddler is taking just one nap, it might mean they are napping too long during the day though that generally only happens if the nap is 3+ hours.

What Time Should a 17 Month Old Go to Bed?

The most common bedtime for a 17 month old is 7:00 to 8:00 PM.

False starts can occur if you set your toddler’s bedtime earlier than 7:00 PM. In this case, they wake up 30-90 minutes later as if bedtime was a “nap.” If your bedtime is later than 8:00 PM, your toddler could become overtired and this can cause an early-waking problem.

If bedtime is earlier or later than the typical range, and sleep is good in your household, there is no need to change it.

Sample 17 Month Old Sleep Schedules

Getting your 17 month old’s sleep schedule right can help your toddler sleep through the night, nap longer during the day, and be happier, overall. Use these sample schedules to help you find the right one for your unique situation.

Sample 1-Nap Sleep Schedule

In my 15+ years of experience as a sleep consultant, most 17 month olds are on a 1-nap schedule by now. There are a few who are still transitioning to one.

If your child takes a 2.5 to 3-hour nap, they might have a shorter wake window before their nap and bedtime OR they might sleep for 10 hours at night instead of 11-12 hours.

Here is a sample schedule to consider using:

* Should You Wake Your Toddler Up In the Morning? We usually don’t have to wake up 17 month olds in the morning unless the schedule is gradually shifting forward. If that’s the case, you may want to always start the day within the same 30-minute window of time. For example, you might start the day between 7:00 and 7:30 AM every day to keep you on track.

Sample 1-Nap Sleep Schedule With Meals

Again, many clients want to know how to fit meals in to set up their toddler for success in sleeping through the night and taking long, luxurious naps. Here’s a typical 1-nap schedule with meals:

* Should You Wake Your Toddler Up In the Morning? We usually don’t have to wake up 17 month olds in the morning unless the schedule is gradually shifting forward. If that’s the case, you may want to always start the day within the same 30-minute window of time. For example, you might start the day between 7:00 and 7:30 AM every day to keep you on track.

Download the sample schedule below by clicking on it and then right-clicking:

Sample Toddler Schedules By Month For All Ages

Did you know we have sample toddler schedules by month for all ages? Check it out!

Why Some 17 Month Olds Wake Up Too Early

Most 17 month olds wake up between 6:00 and 7:30 AM. If your toddler is waking up before 6:00 AM, here are the common reasons:

• Overtiredness at Bedtime – The #1 reason for a toddler waking up too early in the morning is due to being overtired at bedtime. If this is a possibility, simply shorten the wake window right before bedtime.
• Hunger – Offering dinner too early (e.g. 4:30 or 5:00 PM), is a common reason for waking up too early, too. Ideally, dinner will be no earlier than 6:00 PM, if possible. While some toddlers can go 13 hours without eating, some toddlers simply can’t.
• Sunrise – We are meant to rise with the sun and go to sleep with the sunset. Unnatural light has made all of our bedtimes later than natural. Children who are sensitive to light could wake up too early when the sun starts to shine through their windows. Consider room-darkening shades, blinds, or curtains.
• Schedule Change – If you are still giving your 17 month old two naps, it’s probably time to drop one.

Although there are a few other reasons your toddler could be waking up too early, these are the most common culprits.

Why Some 17 Month Olds Wake Up at Night and Can You Do Sleep Training?

There could be many reasons causing your toddler to wake up at night. While you can do sleep training, that does NOT fix every cause. Be sure to solve the right problem and check out our article Top 15 Reasons Your Baby Is Waking at Night.

17 Month Old Sleep Schedule FAQ