Sleep for a 2y 2m old boy......early mornings and shorter naps - any advice?

[ThinkingAboutBoden]

Hi there

My son is 2.2 and has always been what I would consider to be a great sleeper. For the first year, he slept until about 7:20am from 7pm with (thankfully very) few periods of night wakes for teeth, cold etc Since he was about 1 he has gradually woken earlier and earlier in the morning. Not ludicrously early but earlier and earlier and enough to want me to do something about it now.

He is still a FAB overnight sleeper and has honestly only woken (and for minutes even at that) a handful of times since he was about 9 months old so I know I should be very grateful for that. However, he started waking earlier at 1 and is now awake (and shouting btw - not gently calling out or playing in his cot etc - shouting!) not long after 6am. On good days, he might sleep until 6:25 but really no later at all any more.

I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that many toddlers sleep from 7/7:30 until only 6 and he is one of them - he isn't that unusual. However, he is also starting to cut his day nap down to 1.5 hours and with him only sleeping about 10.5 hours overnight, I am concerned that 12 hours just isn't enough for a 2.2 year old.

What do you all think? He is pretty OK in himself although I do frequently think he would benefit from a little more sleep. He is at nursery a few mornings a week and it doesn't tire him. Likewise swimming or lots of activity - no difference in sleep at all.

I now he will give up napping within this next year so do you think I should just hang on in there and hope he increases sleep overnight when that drops?

Anyone had a similar child?

TIA and yes, I do appreciate that this isn't a terrible situation but I am just curious to see if anyone else has managed to do anything to extend sleep overnight by small amounts like 30mins or so.

Again, TIA

[whoneedssleepanyway]

Many children drop their daytime nap at around 2, my DD1 did and many of my friend LOs did too (although i also know people whose DCs have napped till they are 4).

I think 12 hours is within the acceptable range for a 2 year old.

You say he seems ok in himself, that to me would indicate he is getting enough sleep....I think toddlers are always tired at the end of the day regardless of how much sleep they have had and if it doesn't seem to affect him even if he has had a very active day then I would be confident he is getting enough sleep.