Ladies, thanks so much for your replies, I will certainly try a few different things!

Bug'sMum, I have tried stretching out his late morning nap but the problem is that if he doesn't go down when he's really tired he just comes alive and gets really overtired in the end and quite often misses out on his day sleep altogether! It's just so annoying! I try and make sure he gets his late morning sleep at home, but if we're out in the morning I always try and rush back home by about 11 as he often falls asleep in the car on the way back home, and because most of the time we don't have to drive far & we're home fairly quickly, when I'm taking him out of the car he wakes up and then comes alive and refuses to sleep! My DF says don't worry if he only sleeps for 10-20 minutes but that's no where enough for him especially if he doesn't get that second nap in the afternoon. I have tried putting him in his cot when the rubbing of the eyes, pulling the blankie to his face, grabbing at his ears happen, but he will only stay there for 10 minutes tops and then starts whingeing to take him out!

Efjay, you're scaring me!!!!! lol

Livinthedream, it sounds like you have a good routine with your little one, I just don't think DS knows what 'quiet time' means! He's always full of beans, lol. Always on the go. Because we've had the best weather over the last couple of weeks, DF took him out heaps in the back yard, riding his car, tricycle, swing etc, and you'd think all this fresh air would make him tired! Not. Now the weather has turned a bit nasty, I don't know what we'll do as he loves outdoors!

Jungle mum, I will try giving him an early lunch, and I think I have done this on a couple of occasions and he slept for longer on a full tummy......

Bella, he is getting plenty of sleep during the night, I actually thought maybe that's why he doesn't think he needs any during the day but he does need it as the few times he went without it he was so overtired I struggled to get him to sleep at night. A few times on the days of no sleep he's fallen asleep in the late afternoon and then he'll sleep for an hour or so and then wakes up all grumpy cos he's still tired, and then it's dinner bath and bed by around 9ish. That for me is way too late as I don't get any 'me' time cos he's up late! Just doing my head in

Thanks again ladies, I will firstly try the early lunch and stretching out his late morning nap as with one big 2 hour nap he seems happy, but it's just getting him to sleep for at least 2 hours is the trick! I'll then do a quiet time at around 4, I'll ready him some books etc (which he only wants to slam shut and throw on the floor, nice!).

Just a quick update for yesterday....

Got up at 7.30, fell asleep at 11, woke up at 12, had lunch, got the tired signs going at around 3, tried to put him down to no avail, fell asleep on DF at 5, woke up at 6, had dinner, bath, then went down at 9.20. Luckily I wash watching the loggies and told DF to deal with him!!!!!! But that is not a routine I want!!!!!!!!

B xoxoxo