Would you drop the nap or persever?

[neshi]

My Ds is now 2 and half and the terrible twos are hitting very hard!!
He will just not go down for a nap after nursery (has lunch there), even though he's completely exhausted! I've tried lost of different things but nap time has been hell around here.
Generally he will sleep after an hour of me putting him back to bed and of him crying out loud and trying loads of different things to make me give up. And when he falls asleep then goes on for 2 hours if not more.

I tried allowing him not to nap but then he's either falling asleep on the sofa at 6pm or just being nasty because he's wasted. Should I just forget the nap time??

tricky!

mine started skipping naps at 2 and 3/4 and it was a hit and miss thing for months - some days if they had a late night or an early morning or run around they would sleep or fall asleep in the car, other times, not.

it would go from 7 naps to 5 naps : 2 up, then 3 naps : 4 up - you get the gist.
the 2 oldest did this, dropped naps completely by 3.5y

I was quite annoyed at first, but then realized it's better to play it by ear. transition periods like this are always difficult - best to observe then force, I think.

I always prefer organized chaos to strict routines that fail, it suits me better to let go of some things and be relaxed.
and that comes from someone who actually hates change, and it is a struggle for me too to let go, but practicality wins me over.

if it doesn't work, leave it.

make a list if things you could do if he unexpectedly falls asleep.

I'd rather give him and early dinner & bath and keep him awake till 6.30pm, then he can go to bed.

or go for a drive after lunch if you can, a 20- 30 mins nap is all he seems to need!

is this helpful?

Drop them and put to be bed slightly earlier. If he's really shattered and you can, take him for a car ride to get a short nap.

Hi, personally i would give the nap up, exactly the same thing happened with my son (2 & a half), this transition period is really tough, only thing i can suggest & worked for us is, don't force nap & put to bed earlier, son now goes to bed half an hour earlier & copes so much better. Good luck x

Thanks!
That seems to be the most sensible thing to do...drop the nap and put him in bed earlier...but then my husband won't be able to see him..ahhhh
The driving option would be perfect if only I had a car :D
Good suggestions anyway, thanks...will give a try to that option of dropping one nap at a time!

If you haven't got a car and you think he really needs a nap, could you take him out in his pushchair? When both of mine started to drop their last nap, they would still need one sone days, as a sort of catch up.

Another thing to try is just to stick him in bed with you and both have a nap.