Extending length of day time naps

[Magritte]

Hi everybody!

I just wondered if anyone has any tips for extending the length of daytime naps? Here's the problem. My DD (3.5 months) gets up about 8am and is tired by 9am. I put her down, she cries for a little bit but then normally goes to sleep for about an hour. All fine. But then, when she wakes up, she's obviously still tired but won't go back to sleep. And during the rest of the day it's even more hit and miss. I wouldn't mind if she didn't so obviously need more - she gets very grumpy! And I know she needs it because on the very rare occasions I've let her sleep on me during the day, she has slept for up to three hours (although she does this with the help of my boob) and subsequently been very cheerful!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

In theory you could use something like the Baby Whisper Pick Up/Put Down method although she makes clear that it is not for babies under 4 months so you'd have to wait a couple of weeks.

However in reality I'd say just go with the flow. I tried for ages to extend ds's naps when he was this age but I just gave up. It's a major battle and frankly, I just found it easier not to fight. Your call obviously but in my experience if they want to sleep then they will. If they don't, trying to make them do so is pointless.

Use a sling - we walk to the shops like this and ds (3.5 mo) sleeps as long as he needs to, soothed by the warmth and the movement.