Realistic No Nap Toddler Schedule

This sample toddler schedule is for when your toddler (or you) decide it is time to drop their nap. It can be difficult to figure out what to do with them all day when you have nothing to break up the day. Here is a routine that can help you figure out what to do with your toddler all day.

So you’ve dropped the nap- now what do you do with your toddler all day?

There are so many different transitions within the few years of toddlerhood. One of those transitions is the dreaded day when they decide to drop their nap.

When that happens, you’re going to want to introduce quiet time. Quiet time still gives your toddler that chance to rest their bodies and minds in the middle of the day.

Plus it gives you time to reset before the evening shift.

What Are The Benefits of a Routine?

There are so many great benefits to having your toddler in a routine, especially when they stop napping.

It gives both you and your toddler some predictability. Predictable means safe for toddlers.
Less stress – everyone knows what is coming next and you don’t have to worry about what to do with your toddler all day.
Better sleep at night – this ties into predictability – if they know what comes next in the routine they are less likely to fight it, making bedtimes easier and night time feel safer.
Better meal times – a routine keeps them from constantly asking for snacks (as much) when they know there are snack times and meal times.
Effective use of your time – you know exactly how to manage your time day to day.
It is also easier to let others manage your toddler’s routine when your toddler can expect the same routine with everyone they are cared for by.

Before we get to the schedule, here are some things that will help your daily routines with your toddler go smoother since dropping the nap.

Toddler Routine Visual Cards

Visuals are everything for toddlers. It makes things so much easier to understand. That is why I absolutely LOVE these visual cards for morning routines, lunch time routines, quiet time – really any part of a toddler’s day!

Having your toddler physically see what is coming next provides them with the stability they crave.

It also gives them some control in their day to day routine.

Toddler Timer

Time is such a tricky concept for toddlers. That is why I love a visual timer, to help them understand time a little better.

I love to use a toddler timer to warn my daughter when it is almost time for our next activity of the day. Somehow, the timer is magic, and she listens to the timer so well. It has been wonderful for transitions.

I also love to use the ‘okay to wake’ toddler clocks for quiet time. There are so many different ones, but most of them you can set to turn different colors for wake times/okay to leave your room times.

It helps your toddler know when they have to stay in their room for quiet time and when quiet time is over.

MORE ON TODDLERS…

Here is our toddler routine with no nap – and honestly, if your toddler does still nap, just replace quiet time for nap time:

6:30am Wake up, play independently
7:00am Breakfast
7:30am Get dressed for the day, brush our teeth and do our hair
8:00am Drop off oldest at school
8:30am Back home for a structured activity, painting or coloring
9:00am Outing for the day – playgroup, park, backyard, errands
11:00am Back home for independent play or a low stimulating show
12:00pm Lunch time and mid day clean up/reset
1:00pm Quiet time – quiet music or silence, books, quiet activities in toddler’s room, I do my own thing
2:30pm Quiet time over, get ready to pick up oldest from school
3:00pm Snack time, Independent play, read books with mom or dad, playtime with family, possibly some screen time before dinner
5:30pm Dinner
6:00pm Bath time, clean up time
7:00pm In rooms reading books
7:30pm Lights out

Now, lets break it down a little bit.

Your schedule may look a little bit different based off wake times, bedtimes, other children and what kind of errands/playgroups you have to do in your area.

However, this flexible routine is a good baseline.

Our wake time is usually around 6:30am for both my kids. They play independently, or we sit together and hangout in the living area, just waking up, chatting, probably already with my coffee in hand.

Then we move on to breakfast when they say they are hungry. Sometimes I let them watch a low stimulating show while I prep, or after breakfast while I get myself ready.

Then, I get them ready. We drop off my son at school, or if it is a weekend, we move on to the next step.

We do a structured activity, which is either something I set up, reading, painting, sensory bin play, anything along those lines.

Often I will switch a laundry load, or empty the dishwasher around this time.

At some point in the morning we have our outing. This could be as simple as moving to the backyard, or running an errand. One or two days a week I will take my daughter to playgroup. Sometimes we do the playground, or the library, or the petting farm near us.

Then we are back inside for independent play, then lunch.

After lunch is cleanup and a little midday reset. We will cleanup toys, I might switch laundry.

Then quiet time. The length of this varies by how long my toddler is willing to do this independently, but even if we are together, we may read, or she will play something relaxing while I sit quietly by.

Quiet time will look different for everyone. I suggest some quiet time boxes you can have pre-made to bring out ONLY for quiet time.

Once quiet time is over, we get ready to pick up my son from school. We come home and have snack time.

Once they have had a snack we have play time, maybe a bit of screen time, and spend some time together since my son is home.

The kids play and I make dinner. We eat, do baths and books in their rooms. Often we read one book all together and then go our separate ways (my husband and I divide and conquer).

Lights out around 7:30pm.

That is our full routine!