Schedule for a Young Toddler

My DS (dear son) is 21 months old. He has always been very laid back and easy going. He had a routine for his days, but not a schedule. About two weeks ago, I started noticing some definite changes in his behavior. More tantrums. More screaming. More irritability. He just wasn't his easy going self anymore.

I did quite a bit of reading and this is the general consensus: toddlers need a routine and a schedule to feel secure. The daily timing of meals, naps, and bedtime on that schedule should not vary more than 15 minutes in either direction.

The schedule looks like this:

6:30-6:45am Wake Up, Milk, Cuddle with Mom, Change Diaper, Get Dressed

7:30am Breakfast

Free Play

Walk in Stroller

Snack

Play outside or play with mom inside

11:30am Lunch

Free Play

Quiet Activity

Read Books

12:30pm-2:30pm Nap

Milk

Free Play

Daily Activity

Run Errands with Mom

5:00pm or 5:30pm Mom prepares dinner, DS watches short video

6:00pm Dinner

6:30pm Play outside

7:30pm Bath, Pajamas, Books, Milk

8:00pm Bed

After about a week and a half, DS is back to his easy going self. And, as long as we stick to his schedule most of the time the times when he gets off schedule (Sundays, special outings) are not nearly as hard to overcome as they were before.

Note: I rotate toys so his free play activities vary every day or every other day. I have a basket in the living room that I change out when I rotate toys.