Should we force DS to nap??

[TerrysNo2]

DS (23mo) has always been really difficult to get to sleep somewhere other than a pitch dark room (doesn't sleep in pram or car seat) - at about 20 months he stopped going down easily for his nap at lunchtime so we didn't make him have it (but he does at the childminders) - now he is getting more and more active, running etc he seems to be getting shattered in the afternoon but if I try to make him nap he will be up and down and screaming.

His bedtime sleep has gotten worse since we got back from hols in august so we are in the midst of back to bed technique (friday night 69 times, last night 31 times) so am wondering if we should go the whole hog and do it for a nap too?

A reason not too would be that he isn't really tired at nap time so I think he would just be up and down for hours.

WWYD?

It sounds like it would be stressful for all of you. What does your back to bed technique entail?

My son starting to drop his nap occasionally but he would fall asleep in the car or pushchair so I tried to time trips out around those times if possible. But up until he was 2 he went to bed fairly late, about 9ish.

Supernanny styley - just picking him up and putting him back in, he cries throughout but its definitely an attention cry, the last time we do it he goes into bed and stops - I think he is realising it won't work as he then goes to sleep fine.

He is having to go to bed at 6.30 as he is so tired.

Not worth the hassle for a nap IMO. My twins were similar at this age and I just used to put cbeebies on and plonk them on the sofa with a duvet and sit with them. 9 times out of 10 they would nod off and I could carefully creep away.

my DS would NEVER do that, honestly this boy has never fallen asleep in the lounge (apart from one time when he was ill).