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21 Month Old Nap Schedule:

Two naps a day will likely be a thing of the past and your baby is most likely down to one nap a day. Now that this nap transition has occurred, it can be nice to think of the day in three parts – morning, nap and afternoon. The morning might include a fun activity like a playdate, playgroup or playground visit, then home for lunch and nap and then out again for more fun in the afternoon if everyone is up for it!

21 Month Old Feeding Schedule:

Most babies of this age love solid foods. While they may be drinking cow’s milk, they shouldn’t be ingesting more than 20 ounces a day. If your baby is drinking more than 20 ounces of milk, take it as a sign that they may need more solid food, which should be the main source of their nutrients, especially as they near their second birthday. Three meals a day should now be commonplace in your baby’s daily routine, with each day providing more information about baby’s flavor and texture preferences. Have some fun by experimenting with various food flavors, textures, and combos your baby may enjoy.

How Long Should A 21 Month Old Sleep?

Your little one should be sleeping around 11-12 hours each night, and around 2 hours during the day. They may start to experience the unpleasantness of nightmares and a fear of the dark, which can be soothed by a nightlight. Find a nightlight that’s bright enough to gently illuminate the room, without being too distracting.

Resist the urge to transition your baby to a toddler bed as the positive and calming associations they’ve likely developed with their crib allows for more restful sleep, helping to create a more dynamic relationship between baby and family.

21 Month Old Sample Sleep Schedules

Click on each schedule below to expand it and find the routine that best fits your baby's current nap and feeding patterns.

1 Nap
Time Activity
7:00 AM
WakeThis is probably the longest stretch of time for your baby to not eat (overnight) so prepare for a hungry appetite! Feel free to combine breakfast and milk at this age, which might be fun if you'd like to include your baby in your family's breakfast.
8:00 AM
BreakfastCreativity always wins when it comes to food, especially for the first (and most important) meal of the day! Try feeding your baby solid foods like scrambled eggs, yogurt, whole wheat pancakes cooked with blueberries (yum!), oatmeal or anything else your imagination cooks up.
10:30 AM
Optional SnackA small snack between breakfast and lunch will keep your baby satisfied for lunch, just make sure it's not too heavy!
12:30 PM
LunchNow that your baby is on one nap a day, this meal may need to happen a little later than previous months. Continue to feed your baby solid foods, which will not only keep them full throughout the day, but help get them more nutritionally well rounded!
1:00 – 3:00 PM
NapA comfortably long nap is the perfect recharge your baby needs after a solid lunch—try not to let them sleep for more than 2 hours. This nap might vary. If they don't nap too long they might need to go down earlier at night.
3:00 PM
Drink / SnackEnd nap time with a small drink or snack.
4:30 PM
Optional SnackYour little one might appreciate a light snack between lunch and dinner. Try to keep it portable, in case you're both out and about—try some cheese, a handful of berries, a clementine, a mini whole wheat bagel with peanut/almond butter, or even a hard boiled egg. Really, anything you can think of that might be in line with the flavors your baby has come to enjoy works—so long as it's not too big!
5:30 – 6:00 PM
DinnerYour little one will be comfortable with different types of solid foods at this age—they'll also be self-feeding more and more with each day!
6:30 PM
BathSplish-splash! It's time for a bath!
6:45 PM
Milk Feed & BookThis is an optional milk feed, especially since your little one is probably getting most of their nutrition from solid foods throughout the day.
7:00 PM
BedtimeTime for bed. Sweet dreams!
Nap Milk Feed Solids Bedtime Routine

No Naps
Time Activity
7:00 AM
Wake & Milk Feed / BreakfastIf you haven't already, consider combining milk and breakfast at this age, especially if your little one is included in your family's breakfast.
10:00 AM
Optional SnackHow does a small snack sound? Probably pretty yummy to your baby! Just be sure it doesn't interfere with their lunch. This can also be a small milk feed.
12:00 PM
LunchAt this age, your baby is comfortable with a solid lunch and a variety of flavors and textures.
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Rest TimeThat nap is gone, but a 'rest' time is a great way for your baby to recharge. That can look different for every baby, but perhaps try putting your baby in the crib, along with some toys, and with the lights on for some quiet play.
2:00 PM
Milk FeedEnd rest time with a drink or small snack.
4:30 PM
Optional SnackA baby-sized snack for your baby might be good to help them last until dinner. Same as earlier, keep it light so as to not interfere with dinner. Foods like baby carrots, apples with peanut/almond butter, a handful of berries, a clementine, a mini whole wheat bagel with peanut/almond butter, or a hard boiled egg are all great options. You'll probably be out and about, so choose something portable and easy on the go.
5:30 PM
DinnerSo many delicious flavors and textures for your little one to look forward to in this solid dinner! Encourage them to self-feed if that's something they seem comfortable doing.
6:15 PM
BathSplish-splash! It's time for a bath!
6:45 PM
Book & Optional DrinkSolid dinners may leave your baby feeling too full for a bottle/sippy cup before bed.
7:00 PM
BedtimeTime for bed. Sweet dreams!
Rest Milk Feed Solids Bedtime Routine

CONTRIBUTORS

Natalie Barnett, PhD serves as VP of Clinical Research at Nanit. Natalie initiated sleep research collaborations at Nanit and in her current role, Natalie oversees collaborations with researchers at hospitals and universities around the world who use the Nanit camera to better understand pediatric sleep and leads the internal sleep and development research programs at Nanit. Natalie holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of New England in Australia and a Postgraduate Certificate in Pediatric Sleep Science from the University of Western Australia. Natalie was an Assistant Professor in the Neurogenetics Unit at NYU School of Medicine prior to joining Nanit. Natalie is also the voice of Nanit's science-backed, personalized sleep tips delivered to users throughout their baby's first few years.

Dr. Maristella Lucchini serves as Senior Clinical Researcher at Nanit. In her role, Maristella works to secure grant funding in collaboration with Nanit's university research partners and supports the development of the company's research collaborations around the world. Previously, Maristella served as an Assistant Research Scientist in the Division of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center where she led projects across several cohorts focusing on prenatal and perinatal health. Maristella holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

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