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Your LO still needs to have a nap until about 4 years old. I know how hard it is to try and accomplish this though. You need to be firm and consistent, maybe get a day bed for her to take her naps in. Or have her lay with you on your bed and read stories for a bit until she falls asleep, or at least lays and rests for awhile. I used to just let my kids fall asleep on the couch or recliner or wherever they landed, lol! Maybe it's because she is going into her crib for the nap and she feels like she's going to be in there for a long time like she is a night. Try a different place for her to nap then where she goes to bed.

Many many years ago when I was young, kids didn't start school till 7years old (I'm talking another country here). From earliest age to 6 years old, they were attending kindergarden, where nap was one of the component of the routine - kids napped until they went to school !!!! I had this idea that kids needed nap until they are 6 or 7 years old - until I had my strong-headed daughter and stayed at home with her. She started fighting nap at 2.5 and by 3 years old her nap slid to 5 pm or whenever she felt tired. Then it disappeared. It was hard to talke her into sleeping, since she was so energetic and curious. Having a baby brother at 19 months didn't help her nap, neither. I knew a woman who would lay down and take a nap with her daughter, since she could sleep only with mommy. That was no problem for that mom. My own experience with nap was patchy - now I have a son who needs naps much more than his sister did, and still I find it hard to make him sleep. He started fighting his weariness at about the same age, around 3, and keeps fighting :) He's 3.5.

My first gave up napping at about 2.5, although I thought he needed them still, he just wouldn't take one. He to this day needs less sleep then most kids his age. (9) My second is 5 and he still falls out for a nap almost everyday. I just let him crash wherever he passes out at. All kids are different and just as some adults some kids don't require as much sleep as others, but if your dd still acts as if she is tired , as Crystal said a little down time even if it is resting while you read her a story will help and who knows she may fall asleep while you are reading.

I think it varies a lot how much they nap. My DD is 2.5 years old and has never been a big napper. She just seems to charge round all day full of energy and everyone else gets worn out before she does. She's always happy so I guess she doesn't need a nap every day. My DS is only 17 months but he naps half the day and loves napping though he often has to cuddle me to nap in the first place. I'ld say if your DS is acting crabby then she does need to nap. I find mine will only go to sleep with no entertainment - if there are any distractions they are too busy to sleep so I have to separate my two. Mine often want to be held to nap and when they are well asleep I can transfer them but I have to make sure they've been asleep for 5 minutes or so first. Mine often nap on the sofa and they quite like that as when they wake up they can see me.