Please help with my baby's routine!

[Niceteeth]

My DS is 5 months. For the past 2-3 months he's been in a pretty settled routine like this
7am wake
8:30-10 nap
12-1:30 nap
3:30-4:30 nap
6:30/7 bedtime

He's followed this for a while, give or take half an hour here or there. His last nap has always been the most variable. Sometimes only 45/30 minutes. Anyway, lately he has been refusing his 3rd nap but being overtired by bedtime. Then he didn't want his 1st nap till 9 and, the 2nd nap is also getting later. Basically he seems to be stretching out his awake time, but if I just go by his tired cues, his last nap will be way too late! Also he's generally more fussy, clingy and overtired. I don't know what to do!

[lavenderdoilly]

He seems up for dropping a nap. Ours dropped lunchtime first but it might be a trial and error thing for you. We sort of merged lunchtime and afternoon nap. Pushed one back and brought the other forward a bit.

[Niceteeth]

I just worry that he's a bit young to drop the nap already, and he just seems more tired overall! I suppose it's a sort of transitional period that I'm struggling with?

[acquiescence]

If he is dropping his third nap, and his first and second are getting later then that is good surely? So he isn't over tired by bedtime. 4 hours is quite a lot of sleep during the day, so maybe he doesn't need all of it. Is he eating yet?

[Coconut0il]

DS2 is slightly older at 8 months and he only has 2 naps now. They are not set times but I work off when he wakes. 2 hours after he wakes he has a nap, 3 hours after he wakes from that he has another. 4 hours after that it's bed.

[Diddlydokey]

He's probably teething but also likely to move to the 2/3/4 routine soon enough