My daughter is 2.5 years old as well and just 2 weeks ago I finally stopped fighting to put her to sleep after lunch. She would usually fall asleep drinking her bottle, but she stopped that around 2 years old, so then I had to resort to holding her in my arms. She is way too heavy for that, so I would lie with her on her bed, but she would just toss and turn and sit up and think I was playing. Sometimes it took 1 hr for her to fall asleep. When she did though she would sleep for 2 hours or more. It started interfering with her bedtime thought because she wouldn't fall alseep until maybe 10:30pm, after having woken up at 4:30pm from her nap.

Now, I tell her she has to be in her room during "quiet time" while her baby brother naps, and by 7:30pm they're both asleep for bedtime! Thank God we now have our evenings back!!

My 3 year old has always been a good sleeper/napper and is so much happier when she gets one. She goes to JK at daycare and they still insist the children nap (or at least have quiet time) for an hour.

I dont fight with her at the weekend anymore, but i do insist that she stays in her room for an hour at least, she can read in there or play with her soft toys - sometimes she does fall asleep, but if not at least she (and I) are getting some down time.

will also instill the above in my 18 month old once she starts to fight with me at nap time.

it takes a little while for them to get use to this concept, staying in the room and being quiet, but trust me its great, and also means you get a break to yourself :-)