Late naps affecting bedtime.

[ReindeerHugs]

DS is 2.5

He isn’t ready to give up his afternoon naps yet, but he won’t settle for a nap until mid afternoon, and then he’s wide awake at bedtime.

I can’t stop the naps as someone else looks after him in the day while I’m working. If I’m off work and we go out he sleeps in the car on the way home.

He just wants to be awake all evening; but I could really do with having an hour or two after he falls sleep so that I can get a bit of housework done, spend a bit of time with my older child, or even just sit down and enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. He literally won’t sleep until I lie down next to him and go to sleep myself (and even then, if he’s not tired he’ll climb all over me for hours).

What do I need to do? Do I need to beg the person looking after him to not let him nap (even though I know he’ll be upset and difficult?).

It's a difficult balance. Can the naps be shortened?
I find my 3yo to be more tired at bedtime if I wake him up from his nap, rather than letting him wake himself.

Otherwise maybe wake him up earlier in the morning so the naps can start earlier.

We had to stop DS napping all together for this reason (just after 2yo). Even 15 min if he just slightly dozed off at nursery was a disaster

Yes, unfortunately you may need to ask the person looking after him to limit naps. Instead of 2 hours say, only let him have 1. He might not be very happy for a while but he'll adjust.

I’m not sure how keen grandparent will be to wake him (very soft!) but I’ll try keeping him awake all day on the days I have him and then if it helps ask them to try too.

Tonight he looked tired, until I put him to bed, now he seems magically wide awake 🙄

My DS stopped napping at 2.5.

All children are different but I think you either need to reduce the length of his nap, or wake him up at a certain time, even if it's a short nap he's had, to leave enough time to bedtime.

I also stopped going out in the car for a few months after a certain time to stop any danger naps in the car. That might be easier said than done depending on your commitments.

It is a tricky transition and takes a bit of time but he's probably dropping the nap.

@ReindeerHugs Ds still does the suddenly being stupidly awake at bedtime thing. He's 5 years old now

We mostly just leave him to it

Ask them to put him down earlier. Most children who appear to be awake and bouncing off the walls are actually overtired and are like hamsters on a wheel. It's worth looking at gradual withdrawal it takes a few weeks but well worth it.

Thanks all. No nap today and went down much easier, hope he stays settled for the night 🤞