26mo - Nap?

[CupidStunt24]

Hello,

I have a 26mo (I know that means 2 before anyone says it, but IMO there's a big different between a just-turned-two and a nearly 3yo). He just just learned to climb out of his cot, so that will beed to go. He's still in a sleeping bag so that's not prevented this happening. Where as I would usually be fairly firm in putting him back to bed and telling him to lay down and go to sleep, I'm struggling with this as I also have a 6wk old. I have just spent 45mins returning toddler back to bed whilst newborn screams. I took newborn in with me, whilst toddler is jumping up and down, telling me no when I tell him to lay down, as the baby cries intermittently so toddler probably wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. I have aborted mission as I could feel my sanity draining. I am home on my own in the day so I can't leave the newborn with someone whilst I sort toddler out. Does anyone have any experience with dropping the nap at this age? I honestly don't think he is ready, he was still napping an hr 1pm-2pm (capped, i had to wake him). Bedtimes we're becoming a bit of a struggle and not going off til 9pm, but put that down to age and development as lots going on with speech etc and of course sibling arriving. But I can't have this battle every day, I can feel the anxiety as nap time approaches, especially as the baby is awake a bit more in the day. At least if I drop it I'm only having the battle once a day at bedtime when DP is home! Will he eventually get used to it or am I going to have months of broken nights etc due to over-tiredness? Not really sure how to navigate this!

Basically, has anyone forced the nap drop and how did it go for you 😂

I have a 2yr3month and a 15 week old.

I thought the toddler was trying to drop a nap, but I now think it was because they had FOMO, they refused for a good few weeks. I kept offering and now they are back to a regular nap. Keep persisting!

I'd recommend a sling for baby whilst you sort the toddler out so hopefully they will b calm whilst near you! ❤️.

Hang in there mama, in a few more weeks the newborn will be happy playing on their mat / in their bouncer for longer periods of time!

Mine is the same age and we’re in the thick of dropping the nap, because he was fussing at bedtime and then trying to get up at 5.30am. I no longer facilitate a nap but he often falls asleep on the school run to get his sister but is woken up as soon as we get home so it’s max 20 minutes in the stroller. Then we all need a break so he has 2 episodes of Paw Patrol while we chill after lunch instead.

Thank you @pinkunicorns54! I might just try but not stand there for ages getting him to lay down, it's soul destroying and I can feel my sanity drifting away with every passing minute! I will be able to spend more time at weekends or when DP is off getting him to sleep, maybe I just need to try those days until he realises he actually still quite likes the nap! X

@FlounderingFruitcake how is it going? Are your nights terrible now or have they got better? X

My 2.5 yo sometimes naps sometimes doesn't, you can tell if they need a nap or not, I try to encourage him to lay on the sofa for 20 mins, he will either fall asleep or just have a quiet time. If he doesn't seem tired we just carry on, usually then having a power nap in the car. Just make sure you have an early bed time when they don't nap!

I have 5. The oldest 4 all dropped naps completely by 2. Most recently dc4 decided at 22m when dc5 arrived to start climbing out and stop napping. I cried.
He never napped again unless poorly, I dont have tired kids though, they all need less sleep than their peers (and me!) Sleeptime is 8/8.30pm
DC5 is 22m. I hope they buck the trend but on days when they don't get to nap they aren't tired either, so I'm sure I'm on borrowed time.

Oh god... please tell me this "phase" gets better. Now he knows he can get out of bed, there's no "wake up and roll over back to sleep" like he used to. He opens his eyes and it's like a compulsion that he has to get up!

Complete nap refusal unless in the car (managed 30mins yesterday 🙄). Only averaging about 9hrs a night (7.30/8.00 - 5.30). That sometimes includes an hr long wake in the night! He is pale, he has dark eyes, he just looks exhausted. His tantruming is awful. I'm really worried about this going on long term and him being a mess. I'm up with the newborn at all sorts of times so it doesn't really matter to me sleep wise, I'm worried about him as he is just so miserable. I don't know what I need to do to help him. When he wakes pre-6am I go onto his room and lay in there with him, same as for night wakes. It's boring, it's dark and I plan to keep it that way until he either falls back to sleep (if he wakes in the night) or until it's a more reasonable time to get up for the day. It's just such a contrast to about two weeks ago and it all feels completely out of my control. Will it just settle?