When did your child drop naps altogether and did it lead to a longer night sleep?

[curiousgeorgie]

DD is 23 months and of her 'friends' is the only one that still has a nap. About 1 she sleeps for an hour or 2, then usually does 8 - 8 at night...

But the past month or so it's been traumatic putting her to bed and she's been getting up about 7.

My DD started dropping naps around 19 months I suppose, and she did a few months of having a nap every few days before dropping them altogether. During that time we were lucky if she went to sleep before 9pm. Now, if she has any nap at all during the day (including a 5 minute one) it messes up bedtime - she is now 3. Mind you, getting up at 7 isn't bad at all!

I didn't let any of my DCs drop a nap. All three slept from 12-2pm then went to bed at 6pm. This lasted until they started school at 4 years. I needed that time and it was unnegotiable. My youngest tried to rebel at about 13 months but I carried on with the same routine and she resumed naps with little struggle really. I wouldn't give in too soon if I were you and if that time is precious.

Curious DD is exactly the same routine-wise so watching with interest. I've also been advised to drop the nap but I'm reluctant. Dystopian that gives me hope!

My dd and ds dropped their naps at the same time, dd was nearly 4 and ds was just over 2. Dd needed her naps and would sleep 2 - 3 hours and it would not affect her bedtime routine. If she didn't have a nap she was horrible to be around. Ds does not seem to need his sleep as much, his mood is fine without a nap and if he does have a nap in the day time it affects his bedtime and he won't sleep until 2100 - 2200hrs. All children are different don't be pressured to drop the nap if she still needs it.

My ds is now 2.11 and still needs a lunchtime nap. When at nursery during the week he has a min. of 1 hour and on the weekend, he can still sleep for 2 hours. By the weekend, he almost needs to catch up from the week as he doesn't get enough at nursery during the day. He also sleeps at night from 7.30pm - 6.30pm but never sleeps in, no matter how tired he is. Thats why the naps are important, because with no lie in's, hes a nightmare when tired!! Only drop the nap when they seems ready, and my ds shows no sign of it yet!

at 2.6 my youngest slept 2 hours in the afternoon then 7-7 at night. Around 2.9 he started being a nightmare to get to bed. One day we were out all day and he missed his nap and then slept 12+ hours at night. It took a couple of weeks but he settled into sleeping 6pm - 7am overnight.

DS has just turned 2 and he is still napping for 2ish hours most days. He can cope with a 30 minute catnap if we are out but a few days of this and he is very difficult come late afternoon. He probably has a full nap during the week and catnaps only at weekends.

How on earth did you make your dcs keep having naps that they didn't want to have, Dystopian? Am currently struggling with 13mo DS who seems to have developed an intense hatred of his cot, but will still just about still nap if pushed in the pushchair for long enough!