If my toddler (22months) takes daytime naps he struggles falling asleep at night, he wakes at 7-8am and I offer a nap at 12:00 and he usually naps between 2-3 hours so he’s usually up between
2-3pm and then he’ll be in bed by 8pm but I find he’s taking 1-2 hours to fall asleep as he’s unsettled, I just dunno what’s the best routine as my boys craves a routine but he also loves his daytime nap, but when he doesn’t nap throughout the day he’s really cranky but falls asleep easy at nighttime then
you are in that tricky stage where your toddler still needs a nap but is also starting to have it affect bedtime. My child went through something very similar around that age. One thing that helped was shortening the daytime nap rather than dropping it completely. A 2–3 hour nap can sometimes reduce sleep pressure at bedtime so you could try gently waking him after 1 to 1.5 hours and see if that helps.
It also sounds like he is showing signs that he still needs some daytime sleep since he’s very cranky without it. At 22 months, many toddlers still benefit from a nap, but some start needing a shorter one as they get older. You could also experiment with moving bedtime slightly later on days when he has a longer nap.
Every child is different, but it sounds like you’re paying close attention to his cues and trying to keep a consistent routine, which is great. Hopefully you’ll find the right balance between daytime rest and an easier bedtime. Wishing you both some smoother nights soon!