To drop a nap or not?

[ehanway]

Hi everyone!
I have a problem and am not sure what to do about it.  Thought I'd run it by the experts here for some advice.
My 3yo dd is having napping trouble.  I've read through the "what age did your child drop the nap" thread and I see that it isn't impossible that she is ready to drop the nap entirely.   The problem is that she is still pretty tired and when she doesn't sleep she is over tired and just a bear to be around.  If she sleeps she will be in a much better humor for the rest of the day(and consequently so will mommy )  Any ideas on how to gracefully drop the nap or to get her to at least attempt to sleep a little?

Thanks!
-E

[ehanway]

The only reason I was thinking that it was time to drop the nap was the fact that she doesn't sleep most days-just plays in her bed.  She works extra hard to make sure she stays awake .  I definitely wouldn't mind if she continued her nap.  We also need the break.  Being almost 6mos pg I need a rest/nap in the middle of the day. 
She doesn't have a problem going to bed at bedtime.  Thankfully, she usually goes right to sleep then.  The only thing is without a nap she can be cranky by the end of the day and bedtime routine can be more of a challenge. 
Was wondering if pushing the nap up or back might make a difference. 
Thanks,
-E

[Layla]

Can you tell me what her daytime schedule looks like?

Layla

[ehanway]

Here's her schedule:

~7:30 awake/potty/breakfast

~11:30-12:00 lunch

~12:30 down for nap  (Note:  she will often poop sometime between 12:30 and 1pm so rarely is asleep before 1)

~3:00-3:30 up from nap(maybe a little later depending upon when/if she fell asleep)

~5:30-6:00 dinner

6:00-7:00 bedtime routine

7:00-7:30 bedtime(sometimes runs a little later than 7)

HTH!  Thanks,
-E

[Layla]

Yeah so same as what Stacy said.... start introducing quiet time & wake earlier if she does fall asleep during QT to preserve bedtime hour. You might also want to try & put her down a little later than 12.30pm. Most toddlers at this age can stay awake comfortably for 6 even 6.5hrs long before they need a nap. With us... I aim for nap at 12.30 (mine wakes at 6am though) but for the last week i've noticed her falling asleep close to 1pm (so thats 7hrs A time)... she wakes 45mins-1hr later & goes to bed at 7pm (asleep generally within 15-30mins). So we are getting close to cutting the nap out & she won't nap every day either. On the days she doens't nap I put her down for a 12hr night (which she will do).

hth
Layla

[imsmum]

My 3 year old probably only naps 50% of the time now.  If she does nap, it is a bit later than she used to ( about 7 hours after wakeup) and I never let her sleep more than 1.5 hours for nap.  i do find that if she "sleeps in" a bit in the mornings ie past 7 am she is less likely to nap, unless she has had a bad night.  so basically i agree with Layla and Stacy as well, but just add as well--keep an eye on her morning wakeup time, if you want her to take a nap that day!   

[ehanway]

Thanks everyone for your help.  I hadn't thought of adjusting her nap time and she's been on this routine for a while so it makes sense that an adjustment might help.  I'm trying to put her down for nap a little later (12:30-1:00).  She was very tired today and fought even getting into the bed-lots of tears and clinging.  Once I left the room she settled OK but is still awake.  The QT idea is great.  That way she can sleep if she's that tired or just play quietly.  I'll try adjusting this week and see how it goes. 
Thanks again!
Elizabeth