Toddler naps

[PontypandyPioneer]

Hi, 21 month old DS seems to be able to last until 3-4pm without a nap quite nicely but then gets tired and grumpy.

Should I stop trying to force a nap? Or should I let him nap and make bedtime later? 4pm is way too late for him as then he won't go to bed at his normal time of 7-7.30pm!

He went into meltdown mode tonight at about 6.15pm as he was so tired so he was tucked up and asleep by 6.45. Not ages away from his normal bedtime but I felt so bad because he was screaming with tiredness.

21 months does seem early to stop naps too....I'm 38 weeks pregnant and need the rest as well!

Any advice welcome!

[Cakescakescakes]

Both my boys stopped napping before they were 2 and during that transition they were often in bed at 6pm. Just enjoy the long evenings!

[Cakescakescakes]

During the transition I preferred to power through the day and have the full evening to myself than let them have a late nap then be up until 9.30pm.

[Artandco]

Can you let him nap 2.30-4pm, then do bedtime later like 8.30pm?
Early bedtime isn't worth it if you spend the last 2-3 hours with them miserable

[PontypandyPioneer]

Cakes - thanks, the long evenings sound good! My nephew napped until he was over 4 so I kind of feel a bit cheated that my DS is stopping now!

Art - I'd let him nap at 2.30 but sometimes (getting too frequent!) he's refusing until at least 3pm. Means he wouldn't go to bed until 9ish, and I go at 9.30!

In a way I'm looking forward to when he stops napping as he's never settled in his bed during the day, I've always had to take him out for walks or put him in the car (and sit in the car with him until he wakes up).

[Bottomchops]

Oh God no, don't stop the naps! Mine is nearly 3 and sleeps 12-2 everyday, unless we're doing something and she'll go without. I'm on borrowed time .

[fish88]

Mine stopped napping when he was 20 months old. We did have really early bedtimes for about a month but then he adjusted to sleeping 7 until 6 every night. I made the most of the long quiet evenings!

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

When you say refusing what do you mean? Is he sat in his cot wide awake or downstairs playing not wanting to go to bed?

[PontypandyPioneer]

Argh I'm jealous bottom! If I tried to get him to sleep at 12 it would take hours of walking or driving and he'd probably be giggling away for most of it! Think I'd be asleep before him! In fact he'd just refuse to get in the buggy and want to run to whatever exciting place he thought I was taking him to!

[FreeButtonBee]

You could give him 45 mins max. After 3-4 days of that you'll see if he is still resisting a nap and bedtime as well or if he has a new normal.

[Bottomchops]

I just thought it was a skill they had to learn, like how they learn to settle at night. My 2 always have a total pavlovian response: I say nap time or pajamas and they start yawning! I couldn't have got through this much Netflix without the nap!! I sometimes put the tumble dryer on for a white noise effect too!

[PontypandyPioneer]

Iguess - he's never settled in bed during the day ever since he was very small. We tried all sorts, a shortened bedtime routine, dark room, story, sleeping bag, but he wouldn't do it so we've always had to take him out in the car or buggy.

By refusal I mean he's happy playing in the house or park, he prefers to walk than go in the buggy so I know he's ok if he's got the energy to run/walk. If I do get him in his buggy he just swings his legs and points out all the exciting things he can see - buses, birds, dogs, trees etc. If I take him in out in the car he does the same out of the window!

He has a comfort blanket to help him sleep (only for daytime, has never needed it at night) and he throws it to one side if he's not ready for a nap. He always takes it if he's tired even if it takes him a while to go to sleep. He didn't want it today until 4pm which was far too late for a nap.

[bingisthebest]

My 2 yo is exactly like this. It's so difficult. I just go wth it and so often does have a little nap at 3 then I cut it short so she still goes down at 7.
Doesn't always work though.

[PontypandyPioneer]

Bottom - the washer or tumble dryer gets him even more excited! Loves watching them!

It's strange, I've rarely had a problem getting him to settle at night (touching wood while saying that) but daytime has always been a battle. I've won for 20 months but think he's starting to win now!

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Mine has just started to do the same (also 21 months). But she doesn't do it every day yet. So I power through on the no nap days. The following day she's almost guaranteed to nap or I force a short one one because major meltdown would happen otherwise. So maybe you should just force a nap every couple of days if you think he needs it?

[Bottomchops]

Just keep doing what you are then. If it's just to keep him from flaking out at 4 I would do the lunchtime country drive and pull over with my kindle whilst he has 45 minutes!!

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

alternatively will he sit for some quiet time around 1 - 3pm? Tv time or books so he at least has some time to zone out?

[PontypandyPioneer]

Yes think I'll just go with him and see if he wants a nap every few days.

I will try quiet time too to see if that recharges his batteries.

I'm glad to see others have children who have stopped napping at this age. My friends and family have all had children who've napped reliably until much older!

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Nope both of mine started dropping naps at this age . Two of my nephews continued to nap pretty much solidly until they school age and my sisters DS also naps for a good two hours a day (he's the same age as my DD). The only plus point is that they usually conk out pretty quickly at 7pm