How do you change naps?

[Kaloobear]

DD (9 months) has three naps a day. She gets tired generally about 2.5-3 hours after she's woken up, which means she has naps roughly from 9-10, 12.30-1.30 and 3.30-4.30. The problem is that she's shortening the first two to only half an hour or so but extending the last one to two hours or more. This isn't a problem in itself but it means that when it comes to bedtime at 7 she's quite often awake and chatting to herself until 8.30ish, because she's only woken up at 5.30ish.

I am guessing she needs less sleep during the day now but I don't know how to encourage her to sleep more in the morning or at lunchtime as it would be much better for her nighttime if the afternoon nap was shorter or dropped.

Or should I just not worry and let her guide it? That's what I've always done so I don't know whether it's sensible to try and change a routine she's basically put herself in.

(I should add she's also waking up earlier now. She used to sleep 7-7ish but now it's more like 8.30/9-5.30/6. Argh!)

how about keeping her up for 3hrs after her first wake up, then nap for as long as she will (but no longer than 2 hrs, then lunch, then a mid-afternoon nap that she is woken from no later than 4.30. The only problem with those timings is it can rather bugger up any activities, but once its established you can skip them / have them in the car occasionally. You might have to cope with an hour or so of grumpiness for the first couple of days but then she should settle into it.

Don't let her sleep past 4 and put her to bed at 6 if she really needs it.

Thanks both. I definitely need to do something-she napped till 5.30 this afternoon and is now talking to her teddy very loudly Am going to start by pushing the morning nap back a bit I think...

I make sure my baby (8mnths) is awake by 4.30pm the latest for bedtime at 7pm. She usually wakes around 7am, back down for a nap at 8-10am, then naps 11am-1pm then usully up til bedtime at 7pm, but if she's he a very tiring day she has mother nap 3-4pm.