Dropping the nap at three yet still a basket case

[Theo]

My son is three and, for the past month, has only napped two or three out of seven days per week. The other days he plays in his room for about an hour. This down-time would be great for everyone if when it was over he was refreshed. Rather, when he leaves his room he is amped, easily angered and overly tired so the down-time isn't really helping him like it should. (He sleeps wonderfully at night.) MY PROBLEM WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION is I am having trouble keeping his younger brother and myself safe and everyone relatively happy with a very overly tired little guy.

So....

Here's what I've tried so far:
* Having him help me remove all of the toys from his room
* Playing quiet music
* Changing the time he goes down for his nap
* Changing the time he gets up for the day
* Pushing up his bedtime when he doesn't nap (which is already early - with a nap he goes down easily at 7:00)
* Changing the type of activities we engage in before and after naps
* Providing substantial amounts of food prior to nap
* Access to the bathroom as needed and Pull-Ups (for times of sleep)
* Talking to him about how his body feels when he's rested
* Cuddling with him for extended periods of time (just seems to amp him more)
* Going back in to cuddle him after a predetermined (three minutes or so) period of quiet

I've also tried the OPPOSITE of all of these techniques (such as allowing him toys and/or books, not playing music, etc.)

We have a very consistent going-down-for-nap routine that mirrors our nighttime routine which I have kept in place and works marvelously at night. He also has two attachment objects he continues to use.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[newbie_mary]

When this happened to my child, I took him in the car to put him to sleep. However, I don't have a younger one, so it was simple for me.

Now he is back to napping (just turned 4), although he can go without one if needed. But then he is pretty cranky in the evening. Many days he goes to sleep listening to a Frog and Toad book on tape, which works well because he lies still when he is listening to it (so usually falls asleep) as compared to when he is listening to music.

Good luck! Hopefully he will be back to napping soon! I know lots of mamas who went through this at various times, but we are all pretty much still napping now at 4.