2.9 year old doesn't nap. What time should bedtime be?! Help please

[Londonlady92]

My dd used to sleep 12 hours a night, even when she dropped her naps a few months back, suddenly how she wakes every night for hours and I'm wondering what time do you put your non nap toddlers to bed? Wondering if I'm putting her to bed too late or too early?!

My boy is 2 yrs 11 months. Non napper. Goes to sleep between 6.45pm and 7.15pm depending on how tired.

7ish

I'm thinking it could be a developmental leap? Unless there's another big change that could be affecting the sleep (new sibling/house move/move to a big kid bed/night time potty training etc?)

Mine dropped his nap at 2.3 but he goes to sleep at 7pm and sleeps through more or less.

Cutting any molars? My toddler's have just finished and it threw the sleep for a while.

Hopefully your dd will settle soon op, perhaps try a "quiet time" after lunch - no music/screens/ crafts, just a quiet activity like reading? I do this as it makes ds refreshed for the afternoon, worth a try?

7ish

I would put her to bed when she's tired. Honestly, even when you time it perfectly, they still wake in the night. There isn't a magic recipe for sleep.

Mine is 3.5, but we've had the same routine since he was probably 12 months because that's just when we have time to do things given our work schedules. Dinner is at 6:30-7:30, then bath and he is usually getting into bed sometime between 8-8:30pm. Usually asleep 8:30-8:45.

He hasn't regularly had a nap since about 2.5, but he does still nap in the car or just randomly if he's really tired, so maybe 2-3 days a week rather than 7. It doesn't make any difference to his bedtime or if he wakes at night. He mostly sleeps through now (since about 3), but does wake sometimes (comes in to sleep with us if he does). No way we could get him to bed any earlier as there just isn't enough time in the day.

6:30

Thanks all, I guess I'm just desperately trying to find a solution its been 7 weeks of crap sleep.

I've been putting her to bed at 7 but she would probably sleep at 6.30 but don't want to cause more wake ups

Put her to bed when she is obviously tired.

Usually 7.30 but earlier if he's whinging. I do find that he still sleeps through. It's the nightswhen bedtime got too late that he is up in the night and super early morning.

I so miss nap time

If I put her to bed when she was obviously tired that would be 4pm

All four of mine have gone at 6.30 once they dropped their naps.

DS is 18 months and hasn't had a daytime nap since he was about 14 months. He goes to bed approximately 6.45-7.00 and 9 out of 10 times he's asleep within minutes of going down.

Hopefully the night waking is just a phase and she's back to 12 hours again soon.

We're just getting to the end of dropping all naps with DS and we put him to bed a 7, he's usually asleep by 7.20 at the latest. he's been great and sleeping in later than normal the last month, so up around 6.45-7.15.

He's 2yr 10 months. He used to wake 5.15-5.45, so the later mornings have been great!

It stresses me out when I read that no naps can cause bad sleep! Good to know your LO is younger and does just fine!

7 ish, but we always had 'quiet time' after lunch - I'd put him in his cot with some toys and a story tape while I lay on the sofa and read.

Sometimes he'd have a tiny nap, sometimes not, but I thought it was important that he got used to entertaining himself for a bit.

Well yes but only when they're tiny. Not many three year olds nap and she isn't far from that now. 2.10yo goes down between 6.30 - 7ish and tends to wake 7ish.

@Londonlady92

It stresses me out when I read that no naps can cause bad sleep! Good to know your LO is younger and does just fine!

It doesn't always cause bad sleep but even if it does it will only be temporary and unfortunately it is something they all have to do eventually.

Although I'm sure there are many adults who would relish the chance to still nap and I do wish DS had kept them up for longer, I miss drinking a whilst it's still warm.

Can she have a power nap about 2? As long as it's not too late it might encourage sleep at night. Ds napped right up until he started nursery at 3.5.

@Londonlady92

If I put her to bed when she was obviously tired that would be 4pm

If we get early whinge we do a quiet activity- walk in the pushchair or some tv time - while he gets his second wind. 6.30 would be the earliest for actual bed!

Shes just been a nightmare all day, I even tried driving around to get her to nap in the car it failed she just moaned the whole time, now fighting bedtime my god I don't know how much longer I can cope.

@Toomanypickles

I'm thinking it could be a developmental leap? Unless there's another big change that could be affecting the sleep (new sibling/house move/move to a big kid bed/night time potty training etc?)

Mine dropped his nap at 2.3 but he goes to sleep at 7pm and sleeps through more or less.

Cutting any molars? My toddler's have just finished and it threw the sleep for a while.

Hopefully your dd will settle soon op, perhaps try a "quiet time" after lunch - no music/screens/ crafts, just a quiet activity like reading? I do this as it makes ds refreshed for the afternoon, worth a try?

Sorry I missed this, no big milestones and has all her teeth!

I try to do a bit of quiet time in the afternoon but doesn't seem to help much :( x

Well last night was the worst yet she was up from 3 till 6am I have no idea what I'm doing wrong

What happens when she gets up?

Screaming? Shouting? Chatting? Wanting to play??

It's not something like she getting too warm? I had to take ds pj bottoms off the other night because he was too hot and he was up twice, then settled.