My toddler's routine needs to change - please help

[anuta77]

Hello,
My 21 mo son's current routine is the following:

5:30-6:00 am - wake up
6:00 am - milk bottle (last 3 days w/o it)
playtime
8:00 am - breakfast
playtime/playgroup
snack (banana, breadsticks)
11:15am - nap (avg 2 hrs)
1:30 pm - lunch
2:30-4:30pm - playground (weather permitting), fruit snack
5:30 pm - dinner
playtime
7pm - bath
7:15pm - yogurt
7:30 pm - bedtime

Overall, I am very happy with his routine.  However, I have 2 questions.  First, our new nanny keeps telling me he should have lunch before his nap, and I don't see how it's possible w/his current routine.  She also thinks he should have dinner later.  Second, he's going to start nursery school (sooner or later as we're currently deciding whether to start him in April or September)  The nursery school's schedule is 9:15 am - 12:15pm.  Which means we should start adjusting his schedule so that he would take a later nap and have his lunch before his nap, or nap first but then later lunch which will affect his dinner time and possibly, his bedtime, not mentioning his time spent outdoors???  I am very confused as I am very attached to his current schedule which I think works very well but understand we need to change it. 

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[andibig]

Err why does the nanny think he has to have his lunch before hand?
He is taking a decent length nap which tells me he is not waking hungry and if he is happy to have his lunch after then leave it be!
I think his dinner time is fine when it is as well.DD has her dinner at 5.30 as well any later and its then pushing bedtime later she gets tired doesn't want to eat etc etc.
TBH I'd ask her why she thinks he needs these changes???Does she think he doesn't eat well enough or something.He is happy with the routine ,you are happy with the routine (and you pay her!!) so why change it.

Regarding the nursery I'd find out when they do snacks and if they offer a lunch there as well.Then you can work where mealtimes and naps will fit in.
HTH

[anuta77]

Thank you very much for your reply.  I think it's just our nanny's experience with the other kids she had previously worked that that all had their lunch before their nap and dinner later in the day.  I'm just trying to figure out the right thing to do and to be honest, it doesn't seem right to send my child to bed right after he just ate.  I wouldn't like to do that myself and don't think it's the right habit to instill.
Nursery is my bigger concern as I understand that we better adjust his schedule before it starts.  They do not offer lunch as the kids only there for 3 hrs.  The kids have their snack at around 10:30 am (i don't have high expectations of my son eating it completely  )

[andibig]

Would they allow you to take in some food for him (for his snack)??

It really depends on when he starts nursery.If its not till sept then his sleep needs will probably change anyway.he is likely to cut his nap down to 1.5 hrs once he reaches 2 anyways.

I think you will most likely have to play it by ear and see how he is when he starts nursery.offer lunch when he gets home then down for his nap or straight down for a nap and a light lunch when he wakes up so it doesn't affect dinner time.

If he is not going to nursery every day you could try a catnap or no nap and push bedtime early??