If your 2 year old has dropped their nap, what time do you put them to bed?

[VinegarDrinker]

Just that, really.

And how early is too early?!

DS is 2.3 and we have just started having the odd day with no nap and I try to get him until at least 6.30 but its tough. He wakes up really early otherwise. I can't wait until he really doesn't need a nap. I clung onto it for dear life with DD because I was so desperate for a break but it is so much easier to get DS to sleep when he hasn't napped. No car trips at 4 pm though or he'd be out for the count!

6.30 latest here but more likely 6pm but that might even be a struggle.

Thanks, sounds like our boys are pretty much the same age. DS has been having odd days without naps but for the last 4 days hasn't napped at all - either at home or nursery - and his behaviour in the afternoons is really deteriorating. I've been putting him to bed at 6.45 and he is out like a light in 30 seconds (big contrast to the usual!)

Not great timing either as I'm due no 2 imminently so dealing with an overtired non napping toddler plus a newborn will be..... fun!

I can stretch her to 7pm with an ipad and episodes of Get Well Soon. Any human interaction past 6.30 she gets very stroppy.

Good to know I could probably push it earlier. He woke briefly at 5 and 5.45 this morning but went back to sleep by himself and stayed in bed til his Gro-Clock at 6.45 so fingers crossed it won't lead to super early mornings.

It's nice to have a long evening to ourselves, if not quite so nice dealing with the 4pm onwards behaviour....!

Thanks too, mixed and Nagoo - I could probably string him out a bit later but suspect he would still wake at the same time so end up even more knackered.

My dh managed to get ds to nap when he was on paternity leave (when I had dd) so ds was just 2. When he went back to work, I couldn't dedicate that time to get him to sleep. In the end, he went to bed early (6pm) just in time for cluster feeding to begin and for us to order a take away
He was over-tired so we either did activities in the morning and tv nothing in the afternoon, or we went out in the car and came backs about 2:30 so he would definitely fall asleep.
DD slept a lot at first so it was easier to handle than I thought it would be. I was never used to having them both nap so it's not like I had a few months with an hour or so of peace in the day time!

All mine wake up the same time regardless of bedtime to be honest, possibly 30 mins in it.

I am very strict with bedtime, I dedicate all day too them and by 8pm everyone needs to be in bed, ds3 the 2 yr old would be in bed by 7.30 at the very latest no matter what. It is the only thing I am particularly forceful on.

There is 23 months between DS1 and DS2 and getting it all established before is helpful, or going for a walk with the buggy and a sling at the appropriate time worked for me for a while.

Thanks. Tbh the early bedtime appeals in a lot of ways, it's just the behaviour that precedes it is rather challenging.... But I guess that improves as they adjust?