Getting enough sleep and naps at 2.5yrs

I'm really stressing about DS1 sleep - he definitely doesn't get 12 hours in a 24 hour period. 11 seems to be the norm for him on a good day. I kinda wish I didn't read any books about sleep and I wouldn't know what he should be doing!!

We have two issues I guess. Firstly he misses out on the opportunity to nap three days a week because he's breastfed to sleep and we have to have DS2 in the room with us either playing noisily or climbing all over us and this just doesn't work! Anyone else have this problem?

Secondly, (and this is what is doing my head in) an afternoon nap actually means less sleep overall anyway!!:wall: I cant seem to get him to nap before 1.30pm and any sleep after this time effects his ability to fall asleep at night. Without a nap he's out fast between 7pm and 7.30pm and with an afternoon nap, even a 30 minute one its an 8.30pm to 9.00pm bed time! For this reason I've been a little uncommitted to pushing the afternoon nap. Some days he does seem to sail through to bedtime no worries and no meltdowns. Anyone else drop the day nap so young??

He naps at daycare, its usually a bit late (after 2pm) but I don't want him to stop even though it means a late night as I think its an important destressor for him.

He doesn't seem sleep deprived but I know sleep and especially napping is important for his brain :(

My DS1 dropped his day sleeps at around 2.5. I was only worried about it in that I was not getting any downtime anymore! That said he sleeps well over night usually going down around 7.30 and waking at 7-7:30am.
My DS 2 is doing similar, is a little younger though. I try and encourage a rest/quiet time after lunch and he sometimes nods off and other times doesn't. Like you said, if he has a late nap it pushes bedtime out and I can only handle that sometimes!
I'd try not to stress about it. Some kids really need that sleep but others seem to be fine without it. That probably didn't help much, xo

I wouldn't worry about what the books say hun - chances are your little man hasn't read the book either :)

Some kids genuinely need less sleep than others, just like some adults need more or less sleep than others. DD dropped her day sleep most days by around 3, other days during our "hours quiet time" she'd nod off and have a little nap, it really just depended on the day and what we'd been up to (ie, how worn out she was). After lunch would be quiet time, where even if she wasn't asleep she was semi-resting by either watching a movie, playing quietly in her room or reading a book - just a little down-time to recharge.

If an afternoon nap results in skylarking off the walls till silly o'clock, I'd be dropping it personally. Good night sleep is definitely more important :)

Like Catherine I was more concerned about me than DS losing his day sleep, but he dropped his just after 2. Since DD had hers until 3.5 I was feeling a bit ripped off lol.

Seriously though, babies don't read those books, and none of them were written specifically about your child.
My DS is very much like your little guy. Even half an hour in the day pushes his sleep back hours. Sometimes they really do need it, or it's unavoidable (like if you're in the car) and those days I just go with it. My DS is known to fall asleep in random places when he's tired - sometimes at 4.45pm. Lucky for me I have learned that means he's good until the next morning, but trust me I understand the frustration.
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer you is stop watching the clock. He'll sleep as much as he specifically needs.
I found that when I followed DS his patterns settled much more. He now goes to bed at 6pm. Unheard of for a kid who didn't go to sleep before 11pm until after he was 1.

just popping in quickly to say don't stress too much. My DS also only gets 10 to 11 hours sleep in a 24 hour period... I've tried everything to get him more and nothing works. But he's not tired and developing well, so I've just put it down to him needing less sleep than the average. I'd say your LO is pretty similar.

Thanks ladies, I feel sooo much better. I wish I posted months ago!! I think I'll relax a bit and enjoy the early nights when I get them :)

Sounds like a definite plan to me :)

yep definitely dont stress - both my girls dropped their day sleep at around 2yrs of age, but then they both began sleeping much better at night.
DD#2 will be 3 in Oct, and she generally needs less sleep than my 4.5yr old DD! They really are all different, as some PP's have said :)

I'd say enjoy your early nights :)

all I can say is wow... he still has a nap! DD1 dropped her day sleeps at 20 months and dd2 dropped hers at 18 months. They have about 11 hours a night and during the day they just have a rest period after lunch (watch a low key movie or reading books).
Enjoy your early nights:)