Nap Time having trouble

[birty]

My son is 2yrs 3mths and he sleeps in a big bed and has done now for three weeks. I'm having trouble getting him to have a nap in the day and at the right time so he's tired enough to go to sleep at 7-7.30pm. I have to lay down with him in the day to get him to sleep as he will not stay in his bed and then he ends up having a late sleep and a late bedtime. I tried him not having a sleep but he was so tired about 3pm and upset so I know he needs a nap. Any ideas what I could try?

We don't have 'nap time' anymore but 'quiet time' - we get less resistance!

Straight after lunch which we aim to have at 12-12.30, I take ds1 up to his bedroom with his blankie and dummy, settle him down on his bed with a pile of books for him to look at. I then put the stairgate on his door (travel gate type so not fixed) - it won't work unless I do this. I then say "I'm going to have my quiet time now, see you in a little while'

At first, ds1 hated it and would cry but we stuck to our guns and said "you can look at your books or have a little snooze but we are all having quiet time, we will come and get you in a little while" He now settles happily and we leave him for at least 40 mins - if he still awake then he comes downstairs for a drink and a snack or if he is asleep we let him have 1 1/2 hours and then wake him, he'll then be in bed for 7pm-ish.

There was an article in the telegraph quite a few weeks back and that recommended that toddlers needed 1/2 hour of quiet time and if still awake then to let them come back downstairs - we find that there are occasions when ds1 will read for 30-40 mins and then fall asleep so we give him a bit longer.

As long as you can keep him in his room then quiet time reading a book (but not tv) is supposed to be just as beneficial as a sleep.

hth, Becs