HELP! Naps/Routine

[belf]

Hi! I've never made a post on any forum before but now feel the need.

I have an 8 month old son and I have trouble getting him down for a nap. I have a whole routine, sleeping bag, close blinds, short story, rockabye bay lullabys but he just won't go.

I am trying not to BF him to sleep but as it can take so long to get him to nap by the time he is due for another feed he will also be so tired he will fall asleep when feeding.

I'm not one for a routine but I am trying to get some kind in place to see if that helps but every day I try and do it it seems to go wrong from the start and I don't know how to correct it. This is the one I am trying which I found on the babywhisperer forum.

6.30am Wake and plays in cot
7.00am Breastfeed followed by oatmeal/fruit 1/2hr later
9.00am Nap for 1-1.5hr
11.30am Breastfeed followed by vege/fruit/etc 1/2 hr later
1.30pm Nap for 1.5hr
4.00-4.30pm Breastfeed followed by vege/fruit/etc 1/2 hr later
6.15pm Bath etc
6.45pm Final breastfeed
7.00pm Bed

When I do get him to nap he has started to self sooth himself if he wakes and so the naps are becoming longer, a big positive but getting him to nap is a big issue.

I also had major problems BF (for about 5 months!) so I tend to feed him all the time as I'm never sure when he is hungry so I'm hoping some kind of routine may help this side too.

Sorry for the long post, but this feeling of failure (sorry to be dramatic) is tiring.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.