How do you know when/if Lo needs no nap anymore?

[Scotlian]

My DS is 2 next month and I'm not sure if he still needs a nap or not. But I need him to need a nap (!) as I have 5 month old twins too (!!) and the day is impossible otherwise.

Any advice/experience on knowing when a toddler doesn't need a nap anymore...and what to do about it... would be very very welcome.

Frazzled smile emoticon.

DS is just turned 2. Some days he just would not nap, or at least not until stupidly late, like 4pm - then he wouldn't get to sleep at night.

ATM we have mostly stopped letting him nap, as a good nap means he is still partying at 10pm. If he is very shattered I let him have 40 mins or so then I go and wake him up (which feels really mean)

My main suggestion would be get him in some preschool sessions to give you a little break - 5 month old twins are still very demanding but in a different way to a 2 year old.

Or if you want to keep the naps going - get him out for running round in garden/park each morning for fresh air and to wear him out then a big lunch followed by boring him to sleep a nice quiet rest.

MInnie thank you for answering! We are looking into playgroup/preschool things, but in the meantime DS has started getting up at 5 am every morning. Murderous, especially as twin daughters are still feeding through the night. When oh when will the days of Mumsnetting at early-ridiculous-o'clock be OVER?????

Will try the exhausting mornings+big lunch thing. Even just 40 minutes after lunch would make the difference.

Any other suggestions anyone?

I have a 3 year old who still has a 2 hour daytime nap. I had a go at getting rid of the nap but had a very very bed tempered little boy on my hands so welcomed them back with open arms and he's back to 11am - 1pm sleep. Three days a week he has nursery so no nap and he is torture by bedtime. I also have a 5 month old (twins I stand in awe - night feeding must be beyond frazzling!) so need the daytime break more than ever.
Your DS's early morning starts might not necessarily be to do with daytime napping - what time do you send him to bed and how long is his day nap at the mo?

Also on the early mornings note...
My boy used to get up crazily early until someone suggested we get a 'gro company' clock. We gave it a go but never really held out much hope. It was magic! He still gets quite uptight if his clock sun is not awake (pic on face of clock changes from a star to a sun when its up time) when we occasionally get him up earlier!
Seriously give it a go- even if it doesn't work hes got his own clock which'll help with learning time etc. I think it was when mine was about 2 and a half that we got ours...