Ds won't go to sleep, help!

[helips]

Ds is 20 months old and is a nightmare going to bed at the mo. Tried posting on sleep but didn't get much response so thought I'd post here instead!

Basically, as soon as I put him to bed he gets right back up again. He is in a bed as he was climbing out of his cot! I put him back to bed and he gets up again and this continues for about 30-45 mins.

I don't know if this is a phase or whether he just isn't tired. He naps for 1.5-2 hours a day, goes to bed at 7.30pm (but not asleep till gone 8pm) and wakes about 6-6.30am. Should I cut down his day nap or put to bed later? When he has his day time nap I always wake him as otherwise he would probably sleep for nearly 3 hours!!

Hope someone can help, thanks!

If he's asleep by 8pm I'm not sure what the problem is. Could you lie with him until he nods off?

In the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal I suppose, it's just I'm pregnant, tired and emotional and by 7.30pm I just want ds to go to sleep so that I can flop!! If I lie with him he just wants to play.

I suppose what I'm trying to ask is do other dc's this age still have long naps but go to sleep no problem? Does the fact that he's just started playing up at bedtime mean I should make him nap for less time?

My 26 month old girlie is a complete nightmare to put to bed, still in her cot (just about), we've made a rod for our own backs and rock her to sleep, no chance she'll go on her own! At the mo, takes about an hour to get her off, at about 8.30-9pm, we live in Spain so it's normal for siestas and late nights for kids, but I'm sure it's because she has an hour's nap mid afternoon, I'm going to cut it down, then cut it out completely, sounds like your little one's getting too much afternoon kip! My advice would be to cut it down, and just keep putting him back when he gets up, the rapid-return method is a winner apparently! Good luck!

Maybe try putting to bed at 8pm? See how that goes, try waking him a little earlier from naps? Try letting him sleep 3 hours? Sounds odd, but could work. Try reading his bedtime story while he's in bed and then giving him another book to "read" while you go out of the room. Tell him he can play with his toys in his bed, but not get out? I know my ds doesn't go straight to sleep when I leave the room, but he stays in cot and is usually asleep when I check half an hour later.
I hope you find a solution that works for you, good luck!

Ourlot, I like the idea of reading in bed and giving him a book, will try that. Thanks for tips everyone!