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Sleep

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Original poster

2 year old bed time?

35 replies

IncyWincySpiderOnRepeat · 21/08/2017 20:43

Hi ladies, just wondering what bed time you have for your two year old?

If my dd naps in the day (1.30-2.30pm) she won't settle until after 9pm... too late.... and if she doesn't nap she is ready for bed by 6.30pm... too early??

Any advice appreciated...

Thanks!

OP posts:
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FATEdestiny · 21/08/2017 21:09

My nearly 2 year old sleeps 12-3pm (or 1pm-4pm when there is no school run) and bedtime routine starts 7.30pm, asleep by 8pm. Wakes around 7-7.30am. She is nearly 3 now but it's been like the way since she just turned 2.

I've got four children and all were sleeping at least 2h after lunch at this age. 1h seems a very short nap, to me. Could you make it earlier? Say starting at 11.30 or 12pm?

FATEdestiny · 21/08/2017 21:10

That should say nearly 3 year old.

Ecureuil · 21/08/2017 21:10

My just 2 year old doesn't nap, and sleeps 7-7 at night. DD1 is 3.8 and does the same, and has done since 20 months.

LapinR0se · 21/08/2017 21:12

Your two year old is at the upper limit of the sleep needs spectrum FATE so I wouldn't really quote her as an example.
Incywincy, you will need to try different nap lengths yourself and see what works. Some 2 year olds can nap 90 mins and still be asleep by 8, others need only 40 mins and some drop the nap early.
So try a few different lengths and see.

MelvinThePenguin · 21/08/2017 21:12

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Ecureuil · 21/08/2017 21:17

I think they generally need about 11-13 hours at this age don't they? Mine doesn't nap but has 12 hours overnight (and isn't tired during the day), so that's fine for her.
FATE I don't know any other 2 year olds who still nap for 3 hours in the day!

BelafonteRavenclaw · 21/08/2017 21:19

He's just turned 2.
He wakes about 6/6.30am
Naps 1-3pm
Goes to bed around 6.30pm

TheNoseyProject · 21/08/2017 21:19

6.30 isn't too early if she doesn't then get up at 5am!

FATEdestiny · 21/08/2017 21:22

I don't either Ecureuil Grin We must tire her out!

As mentioned in my second paragraph, my other children had more like 2h (possibly 2h30m on a busy day) after lunch at this age - which seems to be most typical amoung those I know.

MelvinThePenguin · 21/08/2017 21:23

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Ecureuil · 21/08/2017 21:27

Both mine have dropped their naps early, even if I took them in the car for an hour after lunch they wouldn't go to sleep. Always fast off by 7pm though and I don't hear a peep until 7am!

CazY777 · 21/08/2017 21:29

My 2.5 year old now sleeps from 7.30/8pm - 6/7am. If she sleeps for even a short while during the day she won't go to bed until 9.30/10pm. But she's always been a crap sleeper so this is major improvement on how it was, she's only recently started sleeping all night.

bookworm14 · 21/08/2017 21:29

My DD (2 last week) does 7.30pm to around 6.30am, with a 2-hour nap during the day from 1-3pm.

FATEdestiny · 21/08/2017 21:32

Oh MelvinThePenguin, that's great to read! I do often get it in the neck on the for having one at the upper end of the sleep range.

I love my afternoons (especially in term time)

Cakescakescakes · 21/08/2017 21:33

Both of mine stopped napping around the age of 2. It was totally normal for them to be asleep for the night 6-6.30 for a few months. (Sleeping through till 6.30-7am which was usual wake up time.) One particular night it was 5.30pm bedtime...

Napping varies a lot between children. Mine were early nap droppers (down to one nap at 12 months and all naps gone by 2) but then I have friends with 4 yr olds who need a 2hr nap after preschool every day.

Shadowboy · 21/08/2017 21:33

My nearly 3 year old doesn't nap unless in the car and she falls asleep. She wakes at 7.30am and goes to bed at 8pm so sleeps about 111/2 hours in every 24.

Doje · 21/08/2017 21:37

DS1 at that age could nap 1-5pm and would still go to bed at 7pm!

DS 2 (2yrs old next month) has to go down at 12.30pm and up no later than 2pm, but still goes to bed at 7pm.

Fruitboxjury · 21/08/2017 21:37

Mine wakes up 6.30, naps 12-2, asleep 8... all give or take but durations about right

I think that makes 12.5h, no idea if that's normal.

MelvinThePenguin · 21/08/2017 21:37

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Ecureuil · 21/08/2017 21:39

MelvinThePenguin DD1 dropped her nap at 20 months, a week before DD2 was born. I'm very envious!

Original poster
IncyWincySpiderOnRepeat · 21/08/2017 21:40

Thank you so much for all the replies, if she goes to bed at 7-7.30pm without having had a nap she usually sleeps until 6.30am the following day so I guess it sounds as though she is getting enough sleep overnight.

Moving the nap earlier is difficult as she is at nursery 4 mornings a week due to me working.

Might try shortening the nap a bit to see if that helps and if not will try cutting out the nap completely with an earlier bedtime... gulp!!!

Thanks for the advice

OP posts:
FruitBadger · 21/08/2017 21:40

Mine's not dissimilar FATE. Doesn't sleep as long at Nursery, but at home he'll wake 6:30-7:00, sleep from 12:30/1:00 to 3 ish He's 2.9 now and has started to be nearer 2 rather than 3 hours, but only fairly recently. Bedtime is 7, he likes to lie and talk to his toys, but will go to sleep by about 7:45

twinklestar2 · 21/08/2017 21:42

fate - my son has just turned 3 and can easily nap for 2-3 hours a day! He's always been a good sleeper though - and thats prob due the help you gave me when he was younger! So thanks for that Grin

twinklestar2 · 21/08/2017 21:42

To answer OP -

7.30 during week when he's at nursery and doesn't nap. 9-10 at the weekend when he has a nap during the day 😯

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2017 21:44

My dd is 2.11 and sleeps 6.45-7 with the odd 30 mins power nap