Toddler very unsettled in late afternoons

[MummyNeedsCoffee1]

I collect DS (14 months) at 3.30pm from nursery. He’s doing really well there and seems to enjoy it, hardly cries at all (from what they tell me). I’m lucky that I can work part time and collect him early. But I find the time 4pm until dinner time (6pm) quite difficult, he cries and is quite unsettled in general. I’d love to spend quality time with him, but he nothing seems to work. He might play with me for a minute and then starts crying. I tried to go for a walk instead but he’ll cry in the pram, I even tried to put him for a short nap in case he’s too tired but he refuses to nap…is this overstimulation from what had been a long day already and just something I need to accept, or is he just happier at nursery than at home with me and I need to find better ways to entertain him? He’s doing better again after dinner, but that’s also when my husband comes home and he loves to play with daddy.

If dinner isn’t until 6pm, when is bedtime?

7.15pm going to bed and hugs, 7.30pm asleep

Does he nap at nursery ? At 14 months they need decent naps still so he could be overtired . Also an earlier dinner time to give him energy would be helpful

Dinner is way too late and I suspect bedtime is too.

When does he sleep and eat at nursery?

Nursery is doing a nap at 11.45/12.00 and usually he manages 1h15min. They offer morning nap as well (he usually does 2 naps when with me) but at nursery he’s too excited by everything that goes on and wouldn’t nap in the morning

Not sure if I can do dinner much earlier, I tried 5.30 but he wasn’t very hungry..,they are doing a snack at nursery between 3-3.30 and he eats quite a lot there I think.

He’s really active and in good mood again between 6pm-7pm, probably also because his dad comes home, which makes it difficult to put him to bed earlier. But I might try to move things slightly, maybe dinner 5.45 and bed 6.45

He's just overtired and overstimulated from nursery.

I have a 14 month old and 1hr and 15 minutes would not be enough of a nap for him.

I think it will just be painful until he's better with only one nap. Will probably take a few months.

And I don't think dinner is too late. My 14 month old wouldn't eat before 6 either, unless I cut out the afternoon snack. But if nursery do the snack, you have no control over it.

I wouldn't try and amuse him too much, I know you want to play with him but maybe let him potter about even if he is a bit whingy see if he will decompress? Dinner and bed time sound fine imo. We always ate at 5.30/6 and bed at 7.30 .

Oh I used to sometimes bath mine in the afternoon especially if they were out and about so had a play in the bath and pyjamas on before dinner.

Try a calming bath when you get home .

Has he reduced his nap time recently? I think this is quite common when they need to nap less but find it harder to go until bedtime but it usually passes.

Then he's just over-tired and over-stimulated.

For the next few months, bring the dinner and bed process forward on nursery days.
He's clearly showing you he doesn't want to be up and socialising at 4pm-6pm. He wants to be left alone and/or winding down for bed.

Definitely over tired and over stimulated.

I think going from 1/1.30-7.30 without sleep is way too long for a child this age. It’s hard when they won’t nap!

I would def try bringing dinner and bedtime forward and having a really good winding down routine with bath, stories, dim lighting etc