There's no single "one right" schedule for a 1-year-old — healthy 1-year-olds vary widely — but experts agree on the key numbers and the general daily shape. ## Total sleep target - **11–14 hours of sleep per 24-hour period (including naps)** is the recommendation for ages 1–2 from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, echoed by NHS guidance ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/); [Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Trust "Safer Sleep 1–2 years"](https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/safer-sleep-1-2-years-leaflet/)). - At 12 months, most toddlers take **1–2 naps totaling about 2–2.5 hours** of daytime sleep, with roughly 10.5–11.5 hours at night ([Wirral NHS Trust leaflet](https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/safer-sleep-1-2-years-leaflet/)). Don't stress over exact split — what matters is total sleep plus how your child functions during the day ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/)). ## Sample schedules (starting points, not prescriptions) From pediatric sleep physician Dr. Craig Canapari's SleepBaby.org guide ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/)): **Still comfortably on two naps (very common at 12 months):** - 6:30 a.m. — wake - 9:30–10:30 a.m. — first nap - 2:00–3:00 p.m. — second nap - 7:30 p.m. — asleep for the night (~13 hrs total) **Moving toward one midday nap:** - 6:30 a.m. — wake - 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. — midday nap - 6:45–7:00 p.m. — asleep for the night (~13.5 hrs total; earlier bedtime protects the day while the single nap is still inconsistent) Adjust clocks to your family's actual wake time — if your child wakes at 7:15, shift the whole shape later. A one-nap day that yields a 40-minute nap and a miserable afternoon means it's too early — return to two naps or use a "bridge" plan. ## Key principles - **Anchor a consistent morning wake time** and keep it steady even on weekends ([Wirral NHS Trust leaflet](https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/safer-sleep-1-2-years-leaflet/)). - **Bedtime between about 6:45–7:30 p.m.** is typical at this age, driven by wake time + nap timing rather than a fixed clock. - **One nap vs. two:** both are normal at 12 months. The 2-to-1 nap transition usually happens between 12–18 months. Look for a *repeated* pattern (first nap regularly refused, second nap drifting too late into the evening) rather than reacting to one bad day ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/)). - **Change one thing at a time** (nap timing OR bedtime OR wake time), then watch several days before changing more ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/)). - **Wind-down routine:** start a calm bedtime routine (bath, dim lights, story) about 30 minutes before target sleep time; keep it the same every night ([NHS — Sleep and young children](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/sleep-and-young-children/)). - **Avoid screens** for 30–60 minutes before bed — screen light interferes with melatonin — and dim the house lighting in the evening ([NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/sleep-and-young-children/); [Wirral NHS leaflet](https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/safer-sleep-1-2-years-leaflet/)). - **Watch for sleep regressions/milestones:** learning to walk and talk, separation anxiety, and new skills commonly disrupt sleep for a few days at this age — a normal blip, not a reason to overhaul the schedule ([Wirral NHS leaflet](https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/resources/safer-sleep-1-2-years-leaflet/)). ## Bottom line The "best" schedule for a 1-year-old keeps total sleep in the 11–14-hour range, holds a steady morning wake time, fits 1–2 naps that don't collide with bedtime, and results in a child who wakes happy, eats well, and isn't collapsing by late afternoon ([SleepBaby.org](https://sleepbaby.org/sleep-schedule-for-1-year-old/)). If you're ever concerned about persistent sleep trouble, breathing during sleep, or health changes, check with your pediatrician or health visitor — not a schedule chart.