Time to drop nap or 2 year regression?

[DinoMum123]

22 month old started fighting bedtime a while ago. Will commonly take 30 mins to go to sleep and on a bad night it’s taken 1.75 hours. Started chatting before nap when he used to be out within minutes so his nap is inevitably being pushed back and most recently, he’s started waking between 5-5.30am (previously 6-6.30am).

Schedule:
5.30am: wake up
1pm: nap for 1 hour (I wake him - capping nap helped initially but not anymore)
8pm: bedtime but can take 30-45 mins to fall asleep. Spends that time clapping and singing!

Everything online says toddlers don’t drop naps until closer to 3 and don’t be fooled by 2 year regression and drop nap too early.

He is also teething currently.

Is it time or is it a phase? Not enjoying the late bedtimes and early morning! No down time for myself as I have to go to bed early as I’m knackered from the early wake 😭

I had one that liked an early wake up and it's a killer isn't it? I found the tips in the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers on early waking did help.

Is he getting plenty of exercise too? I found dealing with such little sleep draining but on the days we'd been more active like him running around the park, playing in the garden after tea or going to playgroup or swimming he slept better.

It might be worth checking his diet too. One of my DFs had a similar problem and the HV suggested

Sorry pressed Post by accident.

My DF's HV suggested that instead of offering 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks, she offered 5 or 6 small meals a day replaced the snacks with things like a small sandwich, cheese on toast or a one egg omelette. Amazingly, her DD slept through from then on.