Refusing afternoon nap

Over the last 2 weeks Spencer has only had an afternoon nap maybe 3-4 times and has refused every other time. I'm not sure what to do as he appears tired, rubs his eyes, gets tantrummy, whines, doesn't eat properly and is just generally unpleasant to be around. He also has massive dark circles under his eyes. We haven't changed his routine at all but as soon as I put him in bed he just screams and screams and screams until in the end I give up and get him up (one day last week I left him for 2 hours, so def not gonna go to sleep if left). Have tried getting him up again and then putting down later but he still screams. Just tried that again today and about to go get him up again as he is sounding like he is gonna make himself vomit.

I'm wondering if he is wanting to drop this sleep, so for those that have dropped it how long does the afternoon over tired tantrum phase last? and how on earth do you ever get anything done?

If he is having a morning nap is it possible for you to drag him out till a little later for it? When Sam dropped her afternoon nap we adjusted her morning nap to late morning. That way it was more the middle of the day which saw her through to bedtime. She was still tired at the end of the day but stopped being impossible. In saying that we do have to put her to bed at about 6.30 otherwise she is a nightmare!

Oh no!   Well then I totally sympathise because Samantha has just started doing the same thing to me in the past few weeks! I put her down for her nap at the normal time but she won't sleep. I do leave her in there with some books etc for about an hour (just for a mummy break) but in saying that she isn't crying thank goodness.

In regards to getting things done, I just let her come help me, or she plays with her toys, watches TV etc while I am doing what I need to do. It doesn't seem to be too much of a problem but does mean nothing is every truly clean with a tornado following me around

is he still in a cot?  Tom will sometimes go to his cot with a few books and be happy.....sometimes he even drops off.  In saying that Tom still has his sleep most afternoons but on days where we miss it (ie he fell asleep for 5 min in car so thinks hes done it) I pop him in with some books. at least its time out for me.

Have you tried taking him for a drive or a walk in the buggy when he is tired but refusing to sleep? I know if won't give you a break - but at least if he has a small nap he might be easier to deal with for the rest of the day!
Apart from that, I can't help sorry -- Jake never refuses his nap ..... even if he grizzles for a few mins every now and then.

Well I put him to bed at 1.30 and he is still there. I think he is doing a catch up nap every 3-4 days.

Nikki wrote: Have you tried taking him for a drive or a walk in the buggy when he is tired but refusing to sleep? I know if won't give you a break - but at least if he has a small nap he might be easier to deal with for the rest of the day! Apart from that, I can't help sorry -- Jake never refuses his nap ..... even if he grizzles for a few mins every now and then.

this was going to be suggestion too... i remember toby refusing naps so i thought he didnt need them but when we started taking gabriel to kindy he would fall asleep in the push chair, sometimes for hours...

Today I tried putting him in cot with some books after Dh had unsuccessfully tried to get him to have a sleep, didn't work he just screamed then tore his bed apart and threw everything out of the cot. We then went swimming and by the time he had dinner he was practically asleep so I put him to bed at 6.15 and he went down without a peep.
If he refuses his nap tomorrow then I will give the buggy a go and see if he sleeps in that. He will sleep in the car sometimes but wakes up as soon as the car stops.
He had a big nap yesterday though so he seems to be missing it for 3-4 days then having a catch up nap. I think he is just not 100% ready to drop it but doesn't really need it most days. The earlier bedtime is quite handy and I think if he has something to distract him in the afternoons when he doesn't sleep, like the swimming today, then he hopefully won't get too feral.