Did any parents out there find that when they reduced their toddler nap their nights went to shit?!

[thinkingcapon]

Just that really
Son used to be awake for 2-3 hours a night (happily awake) so cut his nap from 2-1 hour to combat that and now awake between 3-4am for the day!

Keep persevering? Reintroduce longer day nap?!

X

When you say toddler, how old is he?

2.5 x

Could you try cut nap completely? Might be worth a shot.

I think I could certainly reduce it to less than an hour but he's EXHAUSTED........so looks like complete shit and there's no way if he's been up since 4am that he could get through til bedtime without anything x

Similar issues here with my 2.5yo who needs her nap or will be so unhappy and exhausted in the afternoon but then struggles to go to bed until 830pm instead of her usual 7pm. Obviously doesn't have as much impact as a 3am start (speak to my 4mo about that!).

I'm inclined to think it's the awkward transition between a nap and no nap. You could drop a nap for a few days and see what happens. Might fix things or if not it might at least reset things. What time does nap time start and how long?

Naps roughly for one hour between 11-1 (depending if at nursery or not)

What time is bedtime?
I think you should stick with a 1 hour nap for a while, going from a 2 hour nap to none at all is a bit much.
Try a gro clock for the early waking, worked a treat for us.

Bedtimes at 7, we are using a groclock!

Totally understand the 4am wake ups and napping routine. You might have to go for it for a couple of days to drop the nap after a v early start and plan an earlier bedtime.

Ie 4am - 6pm ( no nap on non nursery days, a slow day playing in the back garden drawing etc, easy dinner and bed - just be prepared in for a tricky day!!)

My daughter soon reset and now does 6pm - 6am at 2.5.

Nursery she has a limited nap of 45mins but she's still shattered when she's home.

Sorry just to add, she's in the bath at 5.30 and asleep by 6.15 xx

Everyone is different but I think 6pm is a ridiculously early bedtime.

Try bedtime being at 6pm, it's not too long until the clocks change so at least you'll be ready!

My two year old has recently started waking up at 3.30am 😩 For the first 18 months he was a crap sleeper and then the last 6 months have been blissful sleep. And now this.. It's like he's developing so fast at the mo and he wants to be awake to learn more. Also I think they start dreaming at this age.