3yo needs afternoon nap but refuses to settle

[oddwelshbird]

My DS is very nearly 3 and has recently dropped his pm nap. This would be fine if he didn't spend his days absolutely exhausted and whingy and refusing to sleep.

I know that developmentally he should be dropping a nap around this time, but he really struggles to get through the morning, let alone the pm and early evening without resting but he just doesn't seem to realise it. He goes to bed at 6.30pm and wakes at 7am most days but even if he lies in/goes earlier it makes no difference to the tiredness next day.

I've a 6m DS too and it's just getting exhausting for us all trying to entertain so that he's not spending all day crying or falling over etc... is it normal to drop the nap but really still need one and does anyone have any idea how I can get through the week in one piece with a permanently tired child?

My DD is exactly the same (she's just turned 3) and we have the same problem - dropped the nap but really tired and whingy. Also have 4mth old so know how you feel. We tried to encoursge DD to have some quiet time in the afternoon (when baby is also napping if I can manage) I sit and read to her or we cuddle up and watch telly/listen to music for a little while, even play at the table with play dough. Anything as long as it's quiet and doesn't involve running about - this seems to work for us and DD at the moment but we'll see how it goes.

I'd second quiet time (ds1 3.5yrs, ds2 2yrs and ds3 6 months) younger 2 nap at 1pm and then ds1 and I do some quiet activity - today it was a bit of cbeebies, a couple of books and some sticking. He does preschool every morning, this week he's knackered from all the pre Christmas hype and we snuggled into bed yesterday with a couple of books and he fell asleep - bliss
We have a fairly boring routine so he knows that its preschool in am lunch, some TV whilst I put other 2 down for naps then quiet time. ds2 and 3 wake about 3pm and thats the nightmare time as ds1 and 2 seem to get into trouble and go 'wild' - roll on summer when I can throw them out into the garden....

good luck x