Cut the nap?

[Mum to F&A]

DS2 is 30 months and DS1 is 7weeks.

A few weeks ago DS started playing up at bedtime. WI/WO would not work he just viewed it as a game. I thought this was a reaction to DS2 being born. We ended up giving consequences and he started getting better. He had also been refusing naps so he would take a nap maybe once every few days. As he started doing this we moved bedtime forward to 7:30pm. (from 8:30pm)

Recently he's been refusing to wear nappies at bedtime. When he was wearing they were mainly dry and we had 5 dry on a trot so I let him go for it. Plus he had been waking up in the night. Because of this wakeup I didn't ask nursery to stop the nap as I thought he may need a catchup.

BUT tonight he refused bedtime again. Plus WI/WO turned into playtime again. It wasn't for long but he was bouncing off the walls and through his bedtime routine there was no eyerubbing. So, do you think I should just cut the nap completely. I asked nursery about it and one person looked at me like I was mad. The other person I spoke to said they ask DS1 if he wants to go for a nap and put him down if he says yes. But she said he doesn't seem bothered

Also noone in my circle of mums (same aged children) have dropped the naps yet. So I guess I'm asking if I could be missing something?

[Roseii]

Hi there, so can you give examples of his routine, nap and no nap days?

DD1 was well on her way with nap dropping at 30m, fwiw, but many still very much need it x

[Mum to F&A]

Hi, thanks for reply.

On nap days its:

7:30/8:00 - Wakeup
nap - 2:30 - 30-45mins (nursery have a 12:30pm naptime and he takes 45mins max.)
bedtime 8pm

yesterday he had a nap and sang in his bed until 9pm! Tonight he fought me to start with and then started singing. Asleep 30mins ago.

No nap:

7:30 - wakeup
bedtime 7-7:30pm

usually closer to 7pm. He generslly doesnt fight. But sometimes get a few meltdowns at bathtime although these have got better.

[Roseii]

See, for me, the meltdowns are worth it for a decent 12 hour night, yk? How many days a week is he at nursery? At 2.5yo DD1 used to nap on her one day at nursery, 30-45 mins, and that worked really well with not then napping at home (apart from inevitable car naps)..

[Mum to F&A]

He goes mon-weds. I think i will ask them tommorow not to let him nap and see how we get on. I agree i think we need to push through the meltdowns as im only fighting him into bed with the nap.
Also ive noticed if he has a NW on a nap day it can last up to 2hours. Whereas no nap days its 30mins max. Plus WI/WO works on these ones?

[Roseii]

Hmm does sound like he's dropping, I would maybe start by alternating nap/no nap days though and see how you go, you don't want to go cold turkey and end up with an OT mess xx

[Mum to F&A]

This is where i get confused! He didn't nap thurs -sat. I felt yesterday that he needed one so gave him 45mins at 2pm and we got the singing at bedtime! Is 1nap every 3-4days enough to keep away OT?

[Roseii]

Tbh you'll only know when you try! We inevitably get a carnap every few days, can't be helped, and that keeps OT at bay, but she is 38m so a fair bit older...Also they do have growth spurts around the 6m mark, so maybe he's going through some changes and it might all settle down without you having to do too much

[Mum to F&A]

I was in such a rush this morning i forgot to tell nursery to cut his nap! Hes been in bed for 30mins and i can still hear him singing!

[Roseii]

oops, how'd you get on? How long did he nap at nursery? x

[Mum to F&A]

They let him nap for an hour! He went off at 8:45. I had to wakr him for nursery.
No nap today and falling asleep during his story! He was asleep at 7:30. So massive difference

[Roseii]

Same here, although if we had a 1 hour nap we'd be on 11pm bedtimes