Toddler nap/bedtime

[HalfBloodPrince]

Hi, hoping someone can advise!

My 22 month old DS usually naps for 2 hours after lunch, goes down 12/12:30 depending on wake up time. I don't let him sleep past 2:30 as otherwise he's a nightmare at bedtime. Usually in bed asleep by 7:30 if up at 2pm or 8 if up at 2:30pm. However, for the last week or so he's taking up to 2 hours to go to sleep at night and getting himself all hyped up etc. He definitely still needs the nap as on days he's missed it he's very tired and cranky from 4pm (out like a light at 6:45/7 though!)

I was wondering if maybe I need to shorten the nap? Or make the cut off earlier than 2:30pm?

Any ideas/advice are welcome. TIA!

At about that age we had to cut the nap right back to 30 mins and sleeping no later than 1:30pm. It was like a switch just flicked and she went from 2 hour naps and a 7pm bedtime to all of a sudden every minute of day sleep directly affecting bedtime.

She is nearly 2.5 now and the nap has pretty much gone altogether, though we try and make her snatch a 10min power nap in the car/buggy to keep her this side of grumpy.

Absolutely trim the nap time down to 45-hour. Id rather a somewhat grouchy toddler who has been woken prematurely from a nap than a toddler demon at bedtime who won't go down!

Definitely shorten it. My 2 and a half year old would easily sleep for a couple of hours but I wake her after an hour and 15 mins max and no later than 2pm.

Thanks everyone! Will definitely be shortening the nap. Anything for the nice, easy bedtimes again 😂