When did you toddler drop their nap? And how to survive it.

[beetlingalong]

I have another thread about 2.3yo DS and his nightmarish bedtimes, following his move from bed to cot.

After another 3 hours of battling bedtime before he finally crashed out last night, I'm wondering whether it's the day nap that's not helping.

DS usually goes down for a nap between noon and 1pm. He'd sleep for a good 2 or 3 hours if I let him, but then I know that will push bedtime back far too late. I try to limit his nap to about an hour, or not beyond 2pm. But, bedtimes are still a bloody nightmare.

He has skipped a nap a couple of times. The first made for a very stressful afternoon because he was clearly on his knees, but he was asleep by 7.15 (a miracle!). On the second day, he dozed off on the sofa at gone 4pm and was not happy to be woken up. So, I don't really know if he's ready to drop his nap and maybe I just have to suck it up for now that bedtime is just going to be late?

I don't want to force him to miss his nap if he really needs it because that seems cruel, but the bedtime battles are so hard!

Any thoughts gratefully received!

Hi @beetlingalong - Both of my Girls (now 8 and 3) loved their Naps, like clockwork every day from 12-3. We didn't stop DD1's Nap until the Summer before she started School but DD2 has recently been taking a VERY long time to go down, so I've been considering dropping her Nap. At the moment we do nap one day but not the next, nap next day but not the next, if that makes sense? On the days she doesn't nap it makes for a very stressful afternoon but I just put her down earlier (6pm) and she's out like a light in Minutes. My trick is just to keep her busy in the afternoons to reduce risk of a 'danger' nap!

It very much sounds as though he’s probably ready to drop it, or at least every other day/twice a week…

being annoying at bedtime is usually the biggest sign but there’s always an adjustment period. My dc1 was very drawn out as I was v attached to my nap time peace, dc2 was more of a short sharp shock with extended bath times and early nights but I was used to full days parenting by then!!

My eldest continued to nap until she started school. She had later bedtimes than most dc her age but was able to get up for nursery at 7am, so it wasn't an issue for us.