To wonder how to get the nipper to sleep?

[Heeck]

My DC is 2 and a half, and will happily nap for 2-3 hours if allowed to, and will then proceed to refuse to sleep until 9pm at night, before waking up at 5-6am in the morning.

If I cut the nap altogether, my placid, easygoing happy little one become the devil incarnate (okay, maybe I'm being dramatic, but no nap= tantrums and aggressive behaviour that DC never engages in normally). However, DC also goes to bed at 6pm, and then sleeps in until 7 or 8am (hooray!).

I've tried to strike a middle ground, but so far any length nap (1 hour nap, 45 min nap, 20 min nap) seems to result in DC reverting back to the 9pm-5am sleep period, which obviously isn't enough sleep for a 2 year old.

What would you recommend I do? I want DC to get the 12-14 hours sleep a 2 year old should get, but equally I am a bit disturbed by the dramatic change in DC's behavior if I skip the nap.

Okay first of all does the nipper attend any daycare?

@AmbleInAnnBoleyn no, stays at home full time currently

Can the nap start earlier?

If you've tried capping the nap, maybe cap it at 1hr30 and do it for a week or two to see if there's any changes to bed time.

Also I wouldn't worry too much re 'recommended' sleep. As long as DC seems happy they might just have lower sleep needs.

In my experience (of 2!) once they start dicking about at bedtime it's time to drop the nap. The next few weeks will be hideous, but then they adjust and life returns to normal!

He's 2 1/2 and the nap needs to go unfortunately.

After 2 1/2 both of mine would not go to sleep before 9pm or 10pm if they had so much as a 10 min sleep in the day. It's shit and you have to be on your toes during the witching hours (4-6pm) to ensure they DO NOT fall asleep!!!

Cool.

The tired raging monster [hulk rage] - can you pull teatime forward in case of hangry-ness, or how about adding in an extra snack mid afternoon?

My 2.5 year old DC is also a bit of a twat about naps and bedtime. I usually allow him about half an hour around 10/11am and that seems to be tolerable.