21-month-old suddenly refusing cot naps, any advice please?

[Nooooooooooooo]

My DS is 21 months & up until now I’ve been really lucky that all I had to do was put him in the cot and leave the room & he would go to sleep.

For the last week or so he has been refusing to nap in his cot - initially I thought it was the heat but it’s really cooled down here and it’s the same story. He’s also been waking up before 6 so not catching up on sleep at night either.

I know some children do give up their lunchtime nap before 2 but up until 10 days ago he was having 2-3 hour naps in the day so it seems like a massive drop. He also keeps going to fall asleep in the car (this morning he was nodding off only a couple
of hours after wake up time), and if I put him in the pram at lunch he will go to sleep almost instantly l. So I’m not convinced he doesn’t need the nap anymore.

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone has any advice on how I can get him back into the cot for his naps please ? We already do white notice, black out blinds etc. His lunchtime nap was my time to get my chores done so really not ready to let it go without a fight !!

2-3 hours naps seem excessive at that age ,I expect he's just ready to drop them now. Maybe he'll just have a nap every other day now or when he's really tired rather than every day?

Yes I agree 2-3 hours is too long but I just cant believe he would go from that to nothing - plus the fact is exhibiting all his sleepy cues and will sleep in the push chair

Let him sleep in his push chair then?

Mine gave up all naps at 14 months. It made for a cranky toddler but there was nothing I did that would make them nap.
You've been very lucky so far, I would just let him nap wherever he will and not worry about where.

Too old for a cot! Floor bed. Mine has been in a floor bed since he was 14 months, loves it.

@LoafofSellotape i just reallr don’t want to be having to walk around with a buggy during his naps when ive got all my housework to do but suppose I might have to !

Wow that’s young - did they always have quite low sleep needs? My boy has always needed more than average which is what is making me think he surely can’t just all of a sudden not need one !

Interesting, he is looking like he might be able to climb out soon so maybe we can try taking the sides off

Honestly, best thing we ever did. Wishing you luck.

I wasn't suggesting pushing him,I thought you meant he would just sleep in there.

I would get him into a bed too.

Quick walk in the buggy then continue to let him sleep at home ?

Mine has been showing signs of this since 19 months, and like yours it was overnight, one day he easily and happily went for his day sleep in his toddler bed, next day, exactly the same routine and he was saying no and getting up to play with things in his room and it's been that way since.

Other than going back to car naps, the only solution I've had is to exhaust him in the morning. We've been going swimming or to soft play or to playgrounds for a big run around every morning. This hasn't been easy as I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I'd much rather be with him playing in the house and backyard right now, but the hour or so of day nap is important for everyone (including me!)

When mine did this I’d just take them for a drive

He’s not too old for a cot I kept mine in a cot until almost 3 and he’s amazing sleeper (now 4.5 and sleeps in a bed) but around this age he went through this too and refused to lay down etc. I ended up putting him in my bed or any bed and laying down next to him on the floor. Not ideal but for him napping again at least!

My son didn’t want a nap after 18 mths of age. Second son required a 2 hour afternoon nap right up until he started school!
They are all different and change, we just try and keep up with all the changes!!!!!

You could toddler proof his room and look at introducing 'quiet time' rather than nap time? As a PP suggested, a floor bed might be the way to go. He can crash out there if he wants to, otherwise at least he gets some downtime while you can focus on chores. Have a few (pretty dull) toys in there to occupy him - teddies, large magnets on a magnetic tray, jigsaw puzzles etc, and leave him to it. A sand timer or visual alarm clock are a good idea too.

My dd had one nap a day (half an hour) by 12 months old and then dropped naps around 18 months old.

He is too old if he's showing signs on climbing out.

Thanks for all the comments ladies ! I put DS into the highchair after he refused to go into the cot and within 15 mins he was asleep! He woke up after about 45 mins & he’s very upset now as I don’t think he was ready to wake up.

The fact he is falling asleep just not in the cot is making me think he does still need a sleep !

Mine is 2 and goes through phases of needing more help to sleep. I can't really advise as mine doesn't go to sleep independently at all, we hold him in a rocking chair or breastfeed him and then transfer him to the cot. He just has FOMO sometimes and really fights it. Normally it takes 5 minutes but we have the odd week where it takes 20-30 minutes even.

Try to cot, if not asleep by xx time put him in buggy, walk round thr block til asleep then park up at home and let him sleep. 2-3 hours is pretty unusual at that age. We went to a floor bed at 12 months it’s been great

Nap will go soon anyway so you’ll have to get used to doing house stuff with him around!

Since this thread I tried giving him a nap in the pram & he fell asleep very happily for 90 mins but was then up at 5am the next day. So yesterday we tried not giving him a nap at all and keeping him up later as I know 630 is an early bedtime but he woke up at 530.

So now really not sure what to do and feeling really quite frazzled and snappy as I hate the early wake ups & feel like I’ve had no time to myself since he started playing up with his naps and a later bedtime means even less time in the evening now to get things done.

OP i think you’ve been very fortunate with the amount hes slept so far. Youll have to adjust to doing stuff whilst hes awake, mine has never napped much so it’s normal, just get him involved in things like hanging laundry etc. clean properly at the weekend when your partner can take him out.

My husband works late all week then spends the weekend playing golf so I’m lucky to get 20 minutes to myself for a shower let alone 4+ hours to clean the house !!!

I know I’ve been lucky till now but he’s dropped his nap, gone to bed later and woken up earlier all in one go and it just feels like a lot all at once to cope with. I can’t even do the dishwasher without my son climbing up onto our table so it’s almost impossible to get anything done while he’s awake but thanks for the comment.