Toddler won't sleep at night. Drop naps?

[IntestinalFlorist]

My toddler (22 months) has always been a terrible sleeper - generally up 3 or 4 times a night for up to an hour. We have a bedtime routine he loves and he goes down fine, but is generally wide awake again after an hour, and then up all night with one thing and another. He has frequent night terrors, and when it's not night terrors he just stands in his cot banging the bars and shouting for cuddles or milk or Mummy or playtime. We've tried Ferber, and pick up put down, gradual withdrawal, but he can outcry all of these methods. Last night he didn't go down properly until 2am, and was up for the day at 6. That is not unusual for us.

GP has ruled out health issues. HV just recommended all the methods we've already tried.

I've been going on the assumption that he must be horrendously overtired and sleep deprived. Thing is, he always naps for 2-3 hours and wakes up cheerful. When he's up in the night he is utterly wide awake and wanting to play. Could it be he just needs less sleep? His cousin dropped naps at 18 months... (she has ADHD though) Should I try phasing out his naps? It can't hurt to try, right? He can't get much worse. Any suggestions? And ideas for how to do this, particularly as he's at nursery in the week?

A 2 to 3 hours nap at 22 months seems excessive. All my dc's dropped to 90 mins by 15 months and then no naps by 19 months. Not forced. Just what their body clock wanted.

That is really helpful! I keep hearing people say I musn't drop the nap until he's 3 / that more sleep in the day makes more sleep at night but this is never been the case for him. Of course this means curtailing my own 2-3 hour nap on weekends (often the longest stretch of sleep I have all week!)

My DD is just over two and we're dropping the nap at the minute/swapping to every other day naps as otherwise she's trotting between our bedrooms all night, gets up at 6 and then tries to catch up on sleep with the nap. With no nap/every other day she's sleeping much better at night

Our little one 2years 3months now went through a phase of dropping naps and had not gone back to napping for around 90mins in the afternoon if we are at home (try not to let him nap any longer). He can absolutely manage without but is then is utterly shattered by 6pm. Only thing I can offer is, is your toddler getting enough exercise? We have a dog so are out everyday walking, exploring, balance biking and really notice a differnce in his sleep at night if he’s had that hour or so of proper exercise in the day, on top of the normal toddler craziness/activities. Good luck x