2.5yr old dropping nap

[Gemzee]

Hi, my 2.5 year old son appears to be dropping his nap. He didn't nap yesterday, was naughty all day (just not listening to instructions/pulling the cat when we've told him not to) but did sleep for 12 hours overnight last night. He has had a few days where he hasn't napped but been miserable/tired all day then sometimes he has slept through 12hrs and sometimes still awoken in the night.
At the moment I still put him in his cot at naptime but mostly end up going and getting him again as he doesn't sleep or ends up getting upset.
What would you do? Keep attempting the nap or drop it all together.
We do not have happy days when he doesn't nap but I realise we may just need to break through this.
Thanks.

I'd try dropping the nap for a few days and bring bedtime forward a little and see how he does. My DD is the same age and dropped her nap around Christmas. We'd put her down for her nap and she'd just spend the time wrecking her room (cot bed so not confined) or shouting to herself, so we abandoned it. We brought bed time forward to 6:30pm because most days she's tired enough by that point and ready for bed. There are the odd days where she will still have a nap if she's really tired. She can be quite tired/cuddly of an afternoon but likewise will have days where she never seems to run out of energy. We just try and play it by ear but the days of 2 hour naps are done!

We started with just napping every other day. That lasted 3-4 months and now my 2.8yo has stopped napping entirely. Only exceptions would be in the car (which is rare at the moment) or if they have been up very early.

When my DS was that age he never napped in his cot but still napped daily in the car. I had to drive him round every day and park up... Second child didn't receive the same treatment

BOth mine dropped their last nap at 18 months so I am slightly in awe!

Don't force it, have some quiet time at 'nap' time - stories on the sofa etc. You may find he only needs one every 2-3 days. Be prepared for some horrid early evenings. HAve an early long bath time and try to get to bed a bit earlier if things are going really badly.

My dd is 3 and still has her naps most days. She is much happier after a 40min nap about midday and then bedtime at 8pm.

If she doesn't nap, she goes to bed about 7:30, but evening is always stressfull.

I would still out him in hia cot/bed just for some quiet time, while he is happy. Then if he doesn't want to sleep or gets upset then go and get him

Drop it unless he asks for a sleep. My 2.5 year old hasn't had a regular nap for at least 6 months. It isn't needed every day. I agree its a pain because a break is nice and her behaviour in the afternoon can be an issue. Its a bit of a transition period but go with what his body is telling him. I try to get my toddler to have quiet time after lunch if she doesn't want to nap

Mine dropped at 19 months. I was delighted as I no longer had to plan my damn day around them!

She just did it just like that. She was sleeping 1.5-2hrs at lunchtime one week and then the next week, she never went to sleep during the day again. We did have to avoid the car anytime after 4ish for a while and we brought bedtime forward to half 6 but overall it was brilliant.

Mine is 3 in May and phasing out her nap as well. We attempt it every day and she will have it maybe 3/4 days per week. It’s not as predictable as alternate days! When she naps she will do 1.5 hours and bedtime is 7.30/8. On the days she doesn’t nap we put her to bed at 7. I have a 12 week old so clinging on to those nap times as long as we can!

My DD slept 12 hours abd still napped in reception class she did only turn 4 in the September.