toddlers and sleep.. tired signs or set nap time

[Sterla]

A bit of both here, but mainly a set nap time. Usually somewhere between 11am and noon here - but if DS seems tired I might try earlier. It depends on what time he woke up for the day too.

[Just Me]

We do a bit of both. I watch tired signs and put them down when they need it, but if they aren't showing tired signs by 1pm then we do the nap time routine anyway. DS always has a daytime nap but DD1 has been staying up through hers a couple of times a week now. It is fine because she uses the time to read in her bed so she still gets a rest and some downtime during the day (and so do I )

I guess it just depends on what's been going on for us. Some days are really busy and others are more quiet. I have found though that if I go out in the morning and really wear them out, they will only have a short nap that day, and if I have a quiet day at home the next day, they will all have lovely long naps (usually). They seem to be ready to sleep earlier in the day too if we have had a quiet morning at home. I guess it just takes a bit of time to unwind if we go out and they are possibly a bit overtired.