Alexander currently has one nap in the morning (somewhere between 9-10am) for 1-2 hrs. Up until recently he was also having an afternoon nap of around 40 minutes. But he has just decided lately that he doesent want to have this afternoon nap.

Problem is that if he skips that nap then from around 4-7pm he becomes unbearable - tired, clingy, grizzly, whingy. If he has the nap then he is the most delightful little boy. Regardless of nap or no nap he still goes down at approx 7pm. We find if we put him to bed before then then he wakes up super early.

So I really need to if possible persist with the afternoon naps. Short of me standing there and rocking him for up to 40 min it is becoming hard work. Any tips?

And am I being unrealistic at this age to expect him to still have the 2 naps? I can remember DD having 2 naps a day until around 18-20 months - mind you she was always a GREAT sleeper unlike this little monkey.