How do I handle a tired toddler that refuses to nap??

[Ladyofthehouse]

My 2.9 yr old DD has started to refuse to nap and play up at bedtime. I also have a 22 month old who naps at the same time and I don't really want her time to be disrupted.

I would let the naps go but she is a very, very active toddler and the first week of no napping was an absolute nightmare. She has been the same today and we ended up putting her to bed at 6 (normally 7 - 7.30) and she cried for about 5 minutes then fell fast asleep. She looks absolutely shattered without it and just spends the afternoon trying to get a reaction - turning lights on and off, trying to get food out of cupboards etc and every little 'no' from us gets a complete meltdown (spitting, hitting etc) that normally it wouldn't!!

Today as soon as it was nap time she started screaming, then would just be shouting loudly - this went on for about 40 minutes. So we ended up saying she could just lie in her bed with some books and have some quiet time. She ended up running around on the landing and shouting again.

But I'm wondering do we just bite the bullet and let her not nap but then put up with her being unbearable in the afternoon? Do I put a film on and lie with her and see if she'll go that way??

Any thoughts please? Getting desperate!!

We've been in the sometimes nap sometimes not, stage for a few months now. DS is 2yr7m. If I want him to nap it now has to be in the car (fortunately he's easy to transfer). When we're in the house he won't nap, until its too late (napping after 3 is a disaster), so we tend to put the tv on and have some quiet time with a drink of milk and a cuddle.
It's hard though. I suspect it'll be another 6m before he can go through easily without a nap.
Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately she doesn't transfer at all!

I think tomorrow I might try the quiet time again and lie with her.

It's so annoying as until a few weeks ago she just used to climb in and go off on her own!! And you can see she's tired but she just won't let herself go.

If only they knew how much mummy's would love an afternoon nap hey?!