Extending 2 year old DS's nap?

[shoesontheglasslamp]

We're in a bit of a pickle here.

DS has napped in the car for the last few months, with me driving around (!).

He was poorly last week and would have slept anywhere so he's back in the routine of a lunchtime sleep in his cot.

However he will only sleep for the classic 45 mins, then wakes really upset and still obviously tired, but he can't get back off.

How do I help him?

well it could be that 45 minutes is all he needs and that he's just a grumpy waker! My DD wakes up like a grump quite often...and I remember my nephew being the same.

I would simply get him up, cheerfully hustle him into something he enjoys.

Oh meant to say "obviously tired" is just how some of us wake up...including toddlers, bleary eyes and all that are par for the course sometimes.

I thought the same as you to start with, but when i go in his room once he's woken up he's he's telling me he's tired and asking me to go away so he can sleep.

I go away, but he just cries and cries... I go into his room, and he tells me he's tired!!!

I still think it's just waking out of sorts OP. He feels tired because he's woken up...he's 2 though and can't work out that he will feel better after a drink and some quiet time.

The wake to sleep method works for my dd but she is younger. What I did qas put her down in her buggy in her bedroom, rather than her cot. After 30-35 mins sleep I would sneak in and gently rock the buggy for five mins to rouse her and then send her straight back over. took a week or two and then she was doing 1.5/2hr naps.on her own.

What does he have for lunch? Is he having any other naps and how's his night-time sleep? He may be waking up cold, or hungry. It certainly sounds as though 45 minutes isn't enough (and I wouldn't have thought it was enough, either).

His nighttime sleep is fab - 7 ish till 7 ish. He's not napping any other times.
He eats well - lunch might be crumpets and cheese, a yoghurt, a few toddler crisps and some fruit. He has this about 12.30, then he goes down about 1.30.
Temperature in room is a pretty consistent 20?.