Dropping naps

[Convex]

I think my toddler is starting to drop his nap.

Apart from being totally gutted about this,

How do I know is is really ready to drop it? He has never been a great sleeper but usually a short or no nap in the day results in a disturbed night.

And does no nap mean an earlier bedtime (in your experience)?

Any advice welcome.

[Convex]

Ps I wish I could have his nap. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[snowboarder]

My youngest dropped his nap at about 2 1/4 - which was distressing as his older brother had his until he was 3. It started taking him ages to settle at night - like I'd put him to bed at 7 as usual and he'd be chatting away at 9.30, so the nap had to go! Even now a year later if he drops off in the car it really affects bedtime.

It did take a couple of weeks to get into the groove and yes the first couple of nights with no nap weren't great, their body clocks just need time to adjust I suppose. Ultimately because he was the youngest and we often had to wait in for him to sleep actually the demise of naps was pretty liberating, I found! Maybe not so much with the eldest doing it....

[hellosailor]

How old is he now Convex?

xx

[Convex]

He is 2.5 yo

I wonder if I should try cutting the nap shorter first? I really don't think he can go the whole day yet...

[jennyh]

Echo what snowboarder said - mine dropped hers around 2.1/4 although tried to drop it a bit earlier! Coincided with long to a big bed and being able to get out, shocking bedtime refusal and awful sleepless nights so we called time on it much to my disappointment! She would still nap at nursery for a bit but that soon became an issue as her body clock was all over the place so we asked them to stop napping too. It took a few weeks but eventually she managed to adjust and has now adjusted well. She can be a bit tricky in the afternoon and I really have to ensure she has eaten enough to get energy etc or she's like a bear with a sore head but she is exhausted come bedtime and sleeps fairly soundly at night. It's horrid to admit they have finished the nap but the sooner we just accepted it and adjusted the better it was all round. Then again, I do know people who have had periods of nap dropping but it hasn't spelt the end and they go back to napping again. I wish tht was our experience!

[misstangsmile]

My son is 2y8m now, he has nap about 1.5h in nursery during weekdays, no nap on weekend, unless we take him to drive around, he only can sleep in the car. we use a childminder this week, he doesn't want to sleep at all. He become quite after dinner, falls sleep in 2 minutes around 8 pm, no struggle at all and not wake up until next morning 8 am.before we drop his nap, he can talk at least half hour on bed, sometimes run away.I think he become easier to sleep than before. but everyone is different. I think you can try it on weekend, if he is not ready, he can still have nap.

[sweetgirl]

sorry convex, i have tried to pm you but your inbox is full.....

[Convex]

Thanks everyone for your advice

We have decided to try shortening the nap and will see how it goes!

Sg, have cleared some space, sorry about that!

[Lindsey<3]

I find that when my 2 and half year old has no nap during the day, yes she falls asleep quicker of an evening, but wakes up earlier! I know, makes no sense right? But seems to be that more sleep she has during the day more she gets at night?? Totally dolally but yeah seems thats how it is. Ha! X

[Convex]

I think there is some truth in that. He had a huge nap yesterday and then slept all night.

We have moved his nap earlier and that us working better although it mean lunch is pretty much disappeared, so it's snacks all day.