23mth old nap/ school run-need help please

[4 under 5]

Hi ladies. Quick update.
Here is my almost 2 year olds routine this past week.
8am wake
3pm nap
4pm wake
8.30 bed

She used to go to bed and be asleep within minutes but this last 2 nights she's struggling to get to sleep. Any ideas?

Her old routine was
9am wake
2.30-3.45 nap
8.30-9pm bed

[4 under 5]

I don't know what to do :-(

[Katet]

How long is it taking her to get to sleep.

By the looks of it she is about 30-45mins less sleep on the new routine, so maybe she needs an 8pm bedtime. Or maybe she just needs a longer wind down routine

Also without having her siblings at home with her during the day maybe she isn't as stimulated & so isn't as needing of sleep, a lot depends really on how happy she is, if she takes longer to go to sleep but is happy all day long then maybe she's taken a developmental leap & needs less sleep.

[*Ali*]

I think her nap is just way too late for BT to be earlier than it was. She isn't getting tired again after the late nap. What about trying a later BT at her old time of 9pm? Either that or cap the nap shorter.

[4 under 5]

Thanks ladies. I'm unsure what to do. Katet your suggesting an 8pm bedtime and Ali is saying a later?
I appreciate the replies. She is happy enough although had a bit f a meltdown at the dinner table at around 4.30 for no reason. Hard to know

[*Ali*]

It could be a case of trial and error and knowing what your child prefers. I just know at 2yo mine would not have been able to go back to sleep at BT 4.5hrs after a 1hr nap. I think that nap is too late but I know you can't have an earlier nap, can you? It sounds like she is needing to fit her sleep into times that are not natural for her and is struggling. Hard when you have other commitments to juggle though, isn't it?

Actually at this age my DS1 was moving towards dropping the nap in favour of a long night and he did 13.5hr nights from 2.5yo whereas with even a half an hour nap he would only do an 11.5hr night. Naps really took away from night time sleep by more than the nap length. So I might be inclined to cap the nap and go for an earlier BT than if you keep the nap at an hour.

[4 under 5]

Thank you Ali for that. If I put her to sleep at 3pm what time should I wake her? 20 minutes past? Then bed at 8pm or is 7.30 better? X

[4 under 5]

I'm putting her down for her nap at 3.10 and will wake her at 3.30 and bed at 8pm.

[*Ali*]

I'd probably cut the nap a little more gradually actually or she'll get OT. So maybe cut it down to 45 mins and then 30 mins and see how she does? Sorry, probably too late now.

[4 under 5]

Hi that's ok. Yes I did only give her the 20 minute nap today. Bed wasn't until 8.30 tonight as we were away but she was ok. Only took about 15 minutes for her to eventually drift off.