to think my 2 year old should be in bed by now?!

[threefeethighandrising]

Arggh!

DP has just taken over bed time duties. It's like this every night!

He's 2.7. He gets up between 7.30and 8.30. He naps for an hour to an hour and a half in the day. (We thought maybe he didn't need it anymore but that experiment failed!)

Bedtime is never ending! I can hear him on the baby monitor now and that is not a child on the verge of sleep.

Can someone please explain to him that he's only 2?!

Agree with cut the nap! Either drop it completely or cut it short - wake him after 20-30 minutes or so. I know it will seem absolutely pointless him having such a short nap, but it's enough to stave off the afternoon grizzles. Most of my friends' children who still have naps past 2.6 or so tend to either go to bed later or go to bed at normal time but play quietly in their cot/room or listen to a story tape or sing to themselves etc for an hour or sometimes 2, before they fall asleep. If you have a child who won't do this then you need to make sure he's tireder if you want him to sleep so early.

DS went through a phase where it was really difficult to keep him awake at about 3/4/5pm, especially if we were going anywhere in the car or pushchair. He's 2.9 now and getting a lot easier to keep awake at these times.

Another one who agrees with cut the daytime nap. My eldest 2 had to have theirs dropped before 2.5 years as they started staying awake till 9.30pm albeit playing in their rooms with soft toys. IN my experience, it takes 4-6 weeks for them to get use to no day sleep. Initially they will fall asleep in the buggy or car of a late afternoon and you just have to wake them as soon as you can get to your destination. Yes, you do have a crabbit child for a few weeks as their bodies adjust but a few earlier teas and longer baths and spending time distracting them gets you through it with the end outcome being they are shattered for a bedtime routine starting at 6.30pm and lights out by 7pm, or whatever times suit your family.

Shorter nap, get him up earlier and make sure he's had plenty of exercise. He's not going to sleep earlier because he's not tired.