23 month old won't sleep for a nap, do I push it later in the day or cut it out..

[WhiteBow2223]

Just that really. He wakes approx 7.30. Used to always sleep for a nap from 12.30 till 2.30 or 3. Now he won't sleep when I put him down, asks for a second bottle and won't sleep till about 1.30 or 2. Problem is he will sleep till 4 if I let him and he won't sleep at bedtime then he's up till 9.30! Any advice please? I've tried days with no nap and he's been fine. Bed at 7 and fast asleep at 7.30. But so far all I'm reading is that they still need naps at this age for brain development? He's always full of energy in the daytime, but will nap eventually so he must be tired? Gosh I hate trying to figure out infant sleep 😅😅

Let him sleep at 130 or 2 but cap his nap to 45min.

Mine dropped naps entirely at 25m 🥱

45 mins sounds so short ? I might try it tomorrow as he didn't sleep. Found him standing in his cot at 2 when I put him down at 1. Will put him in at 2 tomorrow so 😅

Both mine stopped napping at 18 months. Both at uni now - doesn't seem to have affected their brain development 🙂

There are no hard and fast rules. If she doesn't want to nap, don't try to make her. If she sleeps later on and is consequently awake well into the evening, it doesn't matter. You need to be baby-led on this and all babies and children are individuals.

I always let mine sleep when he wanted to (when I was not at work I'd often have a sleep with him), and didn't mind if he stayed up late. I came in for criticism about that at the time but carried on regardless. He grew up fine, clever and talented so I am glad husband and I parented the way we did.

Try it and see, of it's too short then give an hour, or if it's too long then 30mins.

Work out the latest he needs to be awake by in order to get to sleep at bedtime and work backwards from there.

DD refused naps from 15-16mths. Got a 1st at uni and is a all round nice person. No effect on her development intellectually or emotionally.

Don't push the naps - it's another step in development. He'll be fine - you will be the one who misses the naps most!

45 mins is about 1 sleep cycle, so about right if you want to cut back on naps. Most children naturally drop the daytime nap between 2& 3 yrs old & sounds like this is what's happening. If they're sleeping well at night then I always feel that's better for everyone than forcing a nap & having disrupted nights whi h exhaust whole family. No 2 children are the same so do what seems right for your child.

If he’s fine with no nap, then let him have no nap.

My DS has started refusing naps unless I take him for a drive (he’s 2.5) but he still really needs one… he is so over tired on the days he doesn’t have one, you can just tell by looking at him.

So I think you’d be able to tell if he still needed one. If he seems fine without then drop it.

Ya I have been in 2 minds about this approach. I say it to myself daily that I should just wait for tiredness cues but a part of me is worried he won't get the sleep he needs if I leave it up to him and my guess work, I think I will try this with his nap though, only put him for a nap if he looks tired, but try keep a consistent bedtime, give or take 1 hour. Thanks 😊

DS1 stopped napping at 12 months.