To attempt to cut toddler naps?

[sailorcherries]

DS2 is just 2.5 and is not currently at nursery, however he does attend parent and toddler groups, library groups and other events throughout the week. He is also taken out to soft play etc and is looked after by family when DH and I work.

Usually he'd wake around 7ish, sometimes a little earlier, nap around 11.30-12.00 for anywhere up to 2 hours and then be asleep again by 8.30pm or just before 9.00pm at the latest.

For the past two weeks he's been a nightmare. Still waking at the same time and then not wanting a nap until gone 2 or sometimes closer to 3ish each day. Can sleep for an hour or up to two hours but then doesn't fall asleep until gone 9.30/10pm. It's awful. It feels like we have no time in the evenings as we're in bed not much later to be up the next day or I'm still working. Some days he sleeps around 12ish but the long naps mean it's still well after 9 before be sleeps.

He's still awake now!

My eldest didn't stop napping until he was older than 3 and even that seems like a life time ago and I'm confused again. Is it a bad idea to try to stop the toddler naps in the day? Or if he does nap significantly cut the time?
Or does the 'let babies sleep' still apply at this age?

I would try dropping the nap. DD was younger than they say (and I’d hoped!) when she dropped it - about the same as your DS - and hideous 2 hour battle-ridden bedtimes INSTANTLY became bearable again. It’s a long day as they are tired but get him down early to bed and you should see a big improvement in his bedtime behaviour.

Yes to dropping the nap. My DS happily had a nap until 3.5 my DD had finished just after 2 years old.

You could also drop the nap on alternate days, I remember that working.

He has finally fallen asleep, just, 3 hours on from bath time.
He was literally jumping on the bed half an hour ago.

The nap is going. Thankfully Christmas fun should help combat it for the first few days.

Drop the nap. DD dropped hers at about 22 months. Shit bedtimes are a thing of the past. Takes 10 mins to get her down and she sleeps 6.30pm-6.30/7.30am. So much better.