Dropping the toddler nap - hopefully not yet??

[sycamore54321]

My 2-year old has long been a great sleeper. He gets popped into his cot after a story, milk, toothbrush and cuddle and chats himself off to sleep when we leave the room. Or at least he used to, until a few weeks ago. Now he seems to get upset in the cot, tries distracting techniques to delay being put into the cot and then cries if I leave the room. In recent times, it is taking us an hour or more to get him down, often patting his back etc. He generally then sleeps through the night and wakes up happy.

He is much easier to put down for his nap, and still takes a 2-3 hour nap in the middle of each day.

Should I be changing something in his sleep routine or should I just ride this out? I genuinely think (and hope) he still needs the nap, he has only just turned two so still young. I'm also having another baby in a few months so would selfishly love if he still naps during my first few months with the new baby.

I have tried pushing evening bedtime to later but he is just exhausted and cranky, starts stumbling and hurts himself. It doesn't seem to make the bedtime any easier, indeed it is usually tougher.

Grateful for any advice. He used to be such a happy bed-timer, and it is such a pity he is now getting upset each evening. Any advice or tips welcome.

[InsaneDame]

What time does he wake from his nap and when so you put him to bed? When my 2.5 year old naps I have to adjust his bedtime an hour later. If he doesn't nap he is asleep by 7.30 at the latest, if he does nap it's usually closer to 8.30. (He naps for an hour so doesn't actually get any extra sleep in 24hrs but means he has a more settled night as not overtired).

[allthecarbs]

I'd try cutting the nap down to 1 1/2 hours and go from there

[Poocatcherchampion]

Rude through it. He will pick up again.

[Shedoesntgetthatfromme]

I could have written your post a few months ago! I think he sounds like he's definitely started to move towards losing the daytime nap I'm afraid... My daughter is 2.6 and I have had to admit the lovely 2-3 hour daytime naps are behind us. I now limit her to an hour's nap maximum (less if possible) in the day and things have got back to normal at bed time; apparently she just doesn't need that much sleep over the course of 24 hours any more. I was really sad to lose the long afternoon break and quiet coffee nap, but on the plus side the shorter nap means we're getting out and about a lot more during the day. And she's definitely sleeping better at night again - down at 7:30 last night (with not a peep) and still asleep now. Good luck!!

[Afreshstartplease]

DC3 started to outgrow her daytime nap at 14 months! You have done well to go so long

[Cakescakescakes]

My boys had stopped napping completely by the time they were 2.

[BettyOBarley]

I'd try cutting the nap down to 2 hours max and see what that does first


My DD 2.8 still has a 1.5 - 2 hour nap (after dropping it completely for about 6 months!) but if she wakes up too late in the afternoon bedtime doesn't go well so maybe bring nap time forward too?

[sycamore54321]

Thanks all for the views. Nap is normally at noon and I never let him sleep until later than 3. He had been going to bed at 8 and generally sleeping through til about 6.30 before this disrupted phase. Now he still is put to bed around the same time and often sleeps til nearly 8, which is a record lie in for him.

[Kariana]

Could it be a shorter nap and an earlier bedtime would help? He could be going through a growth spurtor developmental phase which is making him need more sleep, hence he's a bit overtired when it comes to bedtime? Bringing it forwards might help.

[NapQueen]

Could you pull the nap earlier? Run him ragged at the park in the morning with a light lunch at 11 and then down for sleep at 11.30?