Nap or no nap?

[Wanttostayinbedallday]

If he naps he won't go to sleep until 9pm and if he doesn't nap by 5pm he's a nightmare... I thought about letting him nap everyother day or shortening his naps but not sure how long to let him sleep for... Any tips?

How old is he? One of my boys has never been a good sleeper and I gave in to letting him drop his naps when he was 2 1/2. We have chill out time (t.v on!) after lunch now instead but he just bounces around the sofa - it's more for my benefit! He used to fall asleep on the sofa a few days a week so had bit of a nap.

If he hasn't had a nap by 5pm, I would have him in the bath by 6 and bed by 6.30.
What's his usual bed time?

He's 2yrs 3 months. Usually goes to bed at 7.30-8pm but about 6.50pm if he hasn't napped as he's so exhausted. If only he'd sit still long enough to watch TV!

Most kids have stopped napping by that age. I'd bring his bed time forward a bit if you can, Or try and exhaust him into a nap a couple of times a week by doing lots of outside physical stuff (more for your benefit than his!)

Thank you for the thread! I have a DD just 2yo and I swear she's ready to drop her nap. She goes to nursery part time and naps well there but the days she's at home she is a nightmare, won't settle for a nap, if l leave her she'll want to nap much later by which point it's too late and she wouldn't settle for bed.

There's no problem getting him to nap, pop him in bed anytime after 12pm and he will go to sleep quickly it's just that he then won't go to sleep in the evening and he's such a handful by 7pm I am ready for a break. Today he napped at 12.50pm, I woke him after an hour and then put him to bed at 8pm and he wailed in his cot for about 40 mins. He used to just lie in his cotbed and chat but now it's crying.. I've had to get a night light as he's developed a fear of the dark.. He lies in bed crying 'Lost Milk..Lost Mummy.. Mummys bed... Watch Iggle Piggle..'

LOL he's very cunning! Every trick in the damn book comes out of his mouth!

You could be on to something there, I let DH put him to bed the other night and went out for a run and he went to sleep in about 5 mins!! DH abroad now unfortunately.

Sleep cycles are usually 45 and 90 mins, although they can sometimes be 30 mins. If I want 2.7 y.o. DS to nap I always wake him after 40 mins or he'll be up till a ridiculous time (it's 10pm even with a short nap).

A nap every other day has worked well for lots of children I know. We're currently attempting naps every third day or so.

If he needs plenty of night sleep, a 6.00 or 6.30pm bedtime on no-nap days would probably help. Sadly my DS doesn't need anything like 12 hours a day total sleep so putting him to bed really early backfires the next morning.

I def think its a separation thing. They can keep themselves awake at this age! Also he's falling asleep for his nap easily so I reckon needs it.

Try changing bedtime - he knows no messing with daddy do nerds to learn no messing for mummy

Lately I've had to do this with ds as he fights sleep with every request going. Now I have to warn him that I'll leave the room for five minutes if he jumps/shouts etc. this helps calm him down. Might have to repeat a few times but rarely. I did try the "I'll be back in a few minutes" trick whih worked a bit to reassure him it was ok to be in the dark but now he's over his fear (for now), I have to be a bit firmer. If he's upset I will stay.

When I put my DDs to bed, I used to say something like "I'm just popping down stairs to do a bit of ironing, I'll be back in 5 minutes". I ALWAYS went back when I promised I would, but nine times out of ten they would be asleep. I think that re-assures them that you're not going anywhere, and that you're there if they need you.