How to break habit of only falling asleep to nap in car?

[RobinsNest17]

My 22 month old will only fall asleep to nap if he is in the car.

It started at about 9 months, because we always went out to activities/run errands in the morning and so were always heading back when he fell asleep. Now it's so embedded he literally won't fall asleep in the daytime without it.

He doesn't need the car to help him fall asleep at night, just in the daytime. Once asleep I carry him in and transfer him to his bed, so he always wakes up in the house. He isn't ready to drop his nap completely, as if he goes without it he just drops into a danger nap at about 5pm.

I know I need to break the cycle (especially as I am expecting another baby in two months time) but I have no idea how. Any suggestions?

You could try and implement a naptime routine to cue his body into a nap at 1pm. For example, morning activity, home before he gets too sleepy. Wake him if he falls asleep on the way home, then lunch, nappy change followed by story in bed. If you have the story in your own bed, you could both have a nap together.