I think it depends on the child too. I have one 12 month old that started. She did about 2 morning naps then we dropped them and went right to noon. She has about a week where she was cranky around lunch time, but after that she got used to it. Another one that came in at 12 months right into the 12-2 quiet time as mom was working on it to make sure he matched my program. I have a 13 month old that started recently that wakes up several times during the night still then awake at 5 am every morning. He goes down at 8:30 for an hour and again at noon.

AS the for the 2 1/2 yr old... make sure you nap that child. I have one that's almost 3 and he naps like a charm every day for at least 2 hours. And when he doesn't he plays and looks at books until he falls asleep.