Why does he not need much sleep?

[Spagbolagain]

DS is 2.2. He moved into a proper bed about 3months ago and we have been putting him down to sleep with a good routine, about 1930. During the last month he has been not going to sleep till about 2100. He doesn't cry or call for us, but he is getting up several times, hanging around on the landing, taking books and toys back to bed etc. If we catch him at it we firmly tell him to go back to bed. It's not an attention thing, because he actually waits till we gave gone downstairs before he sneaks out, we can hear him waiting behind the door. When asked what he is doing, he doesn't really say anything, he just looks sad.

He gets up at 0630ish, and will have an afternoon nap for an hour if made to, but under duress and with a lot of persuasion. He is fine without one, doesn't appear tired or cranky at all.

Does this sound normal? Can I make him go down earlier or get up later? We are getting no adult time and the early wakings are not good either.

Sounds like he is going to drop his nap soon. My dd1 2.5 got so anti her nap it took longer to put her down then it did to have a nap so we dropped it. She was fine without it and went to sleep earlier. I suspect if the nap is dropped he might go to sleep earlier. We don't let dd1 play on thenlanding though. If we hear her get up we put her back on Ger bed and he same if she lurks behind the door lol

DD1 has never been to bed before 8pm in her life.
7-7.30 bed time is for the convenience of parents! It has very little to do with the needs of the child

Just as a mater of interest, what time does dd1 get up?

Totally disagree Startrail!

My DS practically leads us to his cot if we have not put him down by 7.15.

Tonight for example, DH and I in the nursery after DS' bathtime. We were chatting whilst he was playing. Suddenly, DS started trying to get into his cot. I popped him in, and he lay down and started beckoning for us to leave the room! He has NEVER been to bed later than 7.45, and I plan to keep it that way for as long as possible

DS(6yo) is like this. While DD(5yo) can have a good lie in during the hols, DS will go to sleep around 8 - 9pm (depending on the tiredness) and then will be back up at 5 -5.30am. I reckon DS get quality sleep, therefore not needing quantity, whereas DD doesn't get quality sleep so needs the quantity IYSWIM.

If he doesn't have a nap, does this make a difference to his bed time? DS started to do this when he was just about to drop his nap at 2.5 and like your DS would be awake till 9 or 10 (with a bed time of 7.45) and be awake at 6.30. We only realised cos we'd put DD in with him and instead of playing quietly in his cot he started getting out his cot and into his sister's argh. We dropped the nap and now bed time is 6.30 (often asleep by 6.35!!) and sometimes sleeps till 8!!

Maybe try a few days of dropping his nap and see if it makes a difference? Or maybe if you would prefer to keep a daytime nap (I would have done if it wasn't for the disruption to DD) carry on exactly the same but have a zero tolerance for leaving the room (or bed if you prefer) by doing rapid return? Rapid return is a pita but it has worked the couple of times we tried it. Could let him choose a couple of toys to take to bed with him to soften the blow?

Thanks everyone. Well today, he hasn't had a nap as we had people over. He went down at about 2030 which is a little better, I might try the same tomorrow to see if that helps and if so ask nursery to stop napping him when he goes back next week.

Yes to rapid return, my problemis that I am 39 wks PG, and continually lifting him back into bed is a nightmare. However, not having an hour free while he naps will also be a pita when the baby comes. Ah well, I guess we are all going to be all over the place with sleep when DC2 arrives, including him.

Reassuring to know that it doesn't sound totally odd though, I guess they all just need different amounts. I just keep looking at friends with DC the same age and wonder how they are still getting 7 till 7 and a 2hr nap. I have NEVER had that!!