How to Get Your Toddler Back on a Schedule After Summer

Written by Dr. Michelle Shiffman, MD, Pediatrician & Advisor at Bébé Foodie

Summer with a toddler has its own rhythm.

Bedtime is later because the sun is still shining. Dinner might happen barefoot on the patio. Snacks show up in the stroller, at the pool, and in the car. There are ice cream cones, vacation breakfasts, missed naps, and nights that stretch past the usual bedtime.  

That is all part of a good summer.   

When daycare, preschool, work, and fall activities begin again, many families want to rebuild their toddler’s daily routine. Toddlers often need it too, even if they do not seem excited about the change. 

As a pediatrician, I encourage families to think less about getting “back on track” and more about rebuilding a few familiar steps. The goal is not a perfect toddler schedule. It is a rhythm that feels easier for the whole family.

How to gently adjust your toddler’s sleep schedule after summer

A toddler’s sleep schedule is often one of the first routines to change during summer. It is also a good place to begin. 

How much sleep do toddlers need?

The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses these general sleep ranges: 

Toddler sleep ranges by age

Ages 1 to 2: 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours, including naps

Ages 3 to 5: 10 to 13 hours in 24 hours, including naps

Some children naturally sleep more or less, and sleep needs can change with travel, illness, growth, naps, and developmental changes. 

How to move your toddler’s bedtime earlier, little by little

To ease back into your routine: 

• Move bedtime earlier by 10-15 minutes every few nights 

• Gradually adjust morning wake up time too 

• Keep the hour before bed calm and predictable 

• Dim the lights and reduce exciting activities 

• Give the new schedule several nights before deciding whether it is working 

A simple toddler bedtime routine to help everyone wind down

A simple toddler bedtime routine might include:

• Bath or shower 
• Pajamas
• Brushing teeth
• Books 
• A Cuddle 
• Lights out 

It does not need to be fancy or instagram-worthy. Doing the same calm steps each night is what helps. 

Quiet, screen-free activities to try before bed

Screens can make bedtime harder. healthychildren.org recommends avoiding screens for at least an hour before bed. Try books, coloring, puzzles, or quiet play instead. 

Bedtime may not go well right away. That does not mean the routine is failing. It can take several nights for a child’s body to adjust. 

A flexible toddler meal and snack schedule for real life

Summer eating can be fun and flexible. When the usual schedule returns, a regular toddler meal and snack schedule can help with hunger, energy, and mood.

How many meals and snacks do toddlers typically eat?

By age 2, many toddlers eat three meals and one or two snacks each day. 

One example of a daily eating schedule for toddlers

A simple daily eating routine for toddlers might be: 

• Breakfast after waking 
• A snack mid morning
• Lunch around midday
• Afternoon snack 
• Dinner in the evening 

Meals do not need to happen at the exact same time each day. A loose routine can help children come to the table hungry but not so hungry that everything feels harder. 

After summer treats, your toddler does not need a food reset

After a summer of treats, there is no need for a “detox,” or conversations about being “good” again. 

Ice cream and nutritious foods can comfortably co-exist.

Familiar foods to bring back into your family’s routine

Start offering a mix of familiar foods again: 

• Fruits and vegetables
• Yogurt and cheese 
• Eggs, Beans, fish, or meat 
• Bread, pasta, rice, oats and other grains 
• Nut or seed butters 
• Foods that fit your culture, budget and family preferences 

How to keep toddler meals relaxed and low-pressure

You decide what food is offered and when. Your child decides whether to eat and how much. 

One meal may go well. The next may be half a strawberry and six crackers. It is more helpful to look at what your child eats over several days than to judge one meal. If skipped bites and rejected foods are becoming stressful, our guide to what to do when your child refuses food offers more low-pressure reassurance.

A gentle approach to picky eating in toddlers

The AAP’s picky eating guidance also supports regular meals and snacks, low-pressure exposure, and including at least one familiar food.

Simple ways your toddler can help with meal preparation

Getting children involved can make the return to routine feel more like a family project.  

Age-appropriate kitchen tasks for toddlers

Toddlers can:  

• Wash berries 
• Tear lettuce or herbs 
• Pour premeasured ingredients 
• Stir yogurt and fruit
• Place crackers in a lunchbox
• Choose between two vegetables
• Carry napkins to the table 

Will this save time? Probably not. Will there be a mess? Very possibly.

But it gives children a chance to explore food without pressure to eat it. 

Easy toddler lunch and snack ideas for daycare, preschool, or home

Invite your toddler to help pack food.

How to offer simple food choices without overwhelming your toddler

Offer two simple choices:

• “Would you like strawberries or peaches?”
• “Should we pack pita or crackers?”
• “Would you like cucumber or peas?” 

Choices give toddlers some control while you decide what options are available. 

Easy toddler lunch combinations to pack together

These easy toddler lunch ideas can work for daycare, preschool, outings, or meals at home:

• Hummus, pita, cucumber, and berries
• Cheese, crackers, applesauce, and peas
• Leftover pasta, chicken, and fruit
• Yogurt, toast, and sliced banana
• These soft sweet potato patties are another toddler-friendly option for snack plates and daycare lunches.

Homemade food, store-bought food, leftovers, and mixed meals all count. Looking for more combinations? These daycare lunch ideas for babies and toddlers include simple meals and snacks for daycare, preschool, and days on the go.

How to include your toddler in grocery shopping and meal planning

Simple grocery store activities for toddlers

At the grocery store, toddlers can: 

• Find something red 
• Place bananas in the cart
• Choose between two fruits 
• Help count yogurt cups 
• Select broccoli or green beans for dinner 

Keep family meal planning realistic and flexible

Keep meal planning simple. Choose a few dinners for the week and leave room for leftovers, breakfast for dinner, a freezer meal, takeout, or a plate of odds and ends.  

How to make family meals work with your toddler’s schedule

A shared meal can be a helpful daily routine, but it does not need to happen at 6:00 pm with everyone seated for a full dinner every night.

Breakfast, snacks, and ten-minute family meals all count

• Breakfast counts.
• A snack together counts.
• A picnic on the floor counts.
• Ten minutes at the table counts.
• Store-bought pizza counts.

Our Bébé Foodie guide, Family Meals with Baby: When They Matter and When They Don’t, explores how shared meals can support nutrition, language, and connection without adding more pressure.  

How to rebuild your toddler’s daily routine one step at a time

You do not need to change everything at once. 

Which part of your toddler’s schedule might you change first?

To ease back into a toddler daily routine, start with one or two steps:

• Move bedtime slightly earlier 
• Serve the afternoon snack at the table
• Let your toddler choose a fruit at the store 
• Pack one part of lunch together 
• Eat breakfast together when dinner is too busy

There will still be late nights, restaurant dinners, birthday cake and snacks in the car. A healthy, flexible toddler schedule can handle that.

Summer gives families room to relax and enjoy the season. Fall can bring back a little more structure, slowly and in a way that works for your family.  

 

Written by Dr. Michelle Schiffman, MD

Pediatrician & Advisor at Bébé Foodie

Dr. Michelle Shiffman is a board-certified pediatrician based in Denver, Colorado. She brings her expertise in early development, food introduction, and culturally-sensitive care to Bébé Foodie, where she supports the creation of our evidence-based content and contributes to our expert panel. Michelle’s favorite part of her work is connecting with families during infant and toddler visits—especially when it comes to discussing developmental milestones and feeding. As a mom herself, she's also experienced the ups and downs of starting solids and managing picky eating.

 

This blog post is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be used as personal, health, nutritional, or medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician before making any decisions about your child's health or readiness for various foods.