21 month old nap/ food schedule

[shiningbright97]

DS doesn't not have a specific time in the day when he naps. It used to be occasionally before lunch (around 11.30) but not always, sometimes it was after lunch at around 2 (but to be honest it was anytime.. he would sleep when I was out doing a food shop or running errands) It's tending to be after lunch now (around 2.30 or even 3) . I'm finding this is too close to bedtime and he is not going down until 9. He has always refused naps in his cot. I've always had to get him to sleep in his pushchair or car. I've never been able to just put him in his cot and he falls asleep (please no judgement.. I already feel I've failed at this part of parenting).

So I thought I'd reach out to mumsnet and see what schedule everyone has their little ones on. I've Googled advice online and the recommendations is 12.15-2.15, 2 hour day time nap. Lunch would be far to late after this nap schedule, so I presume it would be lunch at 11.30? (Ps lunch often takes 1-1.30 hours for us... he is a picky eater and it just seems to take so long)

I know it's all a phase. He will grow and change. I am a first time mum (and a single mum) and I feel I'm just doing it all wrong. Thanks for any help you can give!

i’ve always done lunch at 11:30 and nap after, depending how long it takes her to eat it’s usually 12:30/12:45. Always wake her no later than 2:30 if she’s not already awake.

My DD is 2y9m and I’ve done this since she was around 15 months.

My little one has lunch around 11.30am is usually finished by 12 pm, and I put her straight down after lunch. Normally naps about 12.15/12.30pm until 2ish. Same as above comment, wouldn't let her sleep past half 2 as it would be a struggle to her her down at night, which is 7/7.30pm

My DS at this age was snack around 10 then nap around 11:30 until 1 then have lunch.
Same as PPs though, if anything changed and the nap was later, I would always wake him up by 2:30.
If he hadn’t had a nap by this point then I would power through the crankiness and do a slightly earlier bedtime.

Thank you for your replies. I will try this tomorrow x

My DS always used to nap around 1130. So he'd have an early breakfast around 0700hrs, a substantial snack around 1030 /1100hrs ( banana, rice cakes, crackers / crumpet) then a nap until 1300hrs & then lunch around 1330.

I always did it this way round because he didn't eat well when he's tired and so lunch was usually rejected at 11/1130. He favours snack foods so is keen to accept the snacks & then eats lunch better after sleep.