Is my 1yo trying to drop his 2nd nap?

[Sunrise888]

My lo dropped his 3rd nap a couple months ago quite painlessly, but the 2nd one is proving quite painful!

He used to be up at 7am, napped 9-10, 1-3, bed at 7pm, more or less. It wasn't that regimented but he was fairly predictable.

Now he is up at 8am, might have 1-2h nap at 11, 12 or 1pm (varies depending on whether he has nursery, or if we're are out or at home), dozes off before or during dinner at 5ish, wakes up after an hour, bedtime at 10 or 11pm.

This has sort of coincided with the start of nursery which is 3 days a week. I'm unsure whether he is actually transitioning to one nap, or he is just unsettled by starting nursery (he can't sleep in the morning there, only after lunch).

Anyway, I'm worried he's not getting enough sleep. I want to get him up earlier in the mornings but I can't get him to sleep any earlier and he is very reluctant to wake before he is ready!

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi!
My little one is going through this transition at the moment too. Hes 16 months..
Hes a TERRIBLE night time sleeper, he starts the day at 5.30 so I let him nap between 8-9am for 15 mins then allow a long nap from 11.30 for as long as he will sleep. Then awake til bedtime which is 7pm. (start routine at 6.30.)

I dont know if this is the right way, but maybe not letting him have that afternoon nap at 5ish? I know it's hard when their sooooo tired and grumpy. But maybe even start his dinner then bedtime routine at 4.30/5? then his morning wakes might be earlier?

Sorry, I'm not sure if thats helpful to you. But I'm with you!!! Ive found this nap transition hard. Specially planning your day around just 1 nap.
My LO is at nursery too, and I find it difficult to get that balance right with them... as they have other kids to look after.

Good luck x

I would push the morning nap as late as you can, the bedtime early for a while.

Yes at on home days try edge the nap closer to 11:45 and then 12:30 eventually. Give lunch first so full tummy. Hopefully he'll sleep a solid 2 hours. It works really well for us now

Ds went through similar when settling into nursery. Now he's settled he sleeps well there and even if he doesn't, he copes better with a shorter nap as he is that bit older. It does take a while for them to settle completely, a couple of months in our experience

Jess have you tried disturbing your LO just before you go to bed? Disturb them enough to wake them but not fully awake them. Better they have a little play (if they wake that much) for a bit at that time than waking up at 5ish. It help us reset ds sleep cycle when he went through similar. Also ds suffers from Reflux and he wakes at 5ish when it's flared up so giving Gaviscon with bedtime feed can really help. Happens when teething badly. Gaviscon can be bought over the counter and used from 12 months