Questions on napping for four month old

[Quietlyalert]

Hi, as per my previous q re controlled crying, I have a 17 week baby I'm trying to get to have the three hours of daytime naps that seem to be widely recommended. I'm not following any strict routine but trying to recognise her tired cues and respond to them in time. She seems to have her longest nap in the morning, usually becoming tired about 90 mins after waking (usually wakes around 7) and will sometimes sleep for up to two and a half hours. This then makes it difficult to get her to have a good sleep at lunchtime. Usually she'll wake from her morning nap at 10.30 / 11 so ready for next nap til 12.30 / 1 but usually won't sleep for very long after big morning nap. Should I be limiting her morning nap to help her sleep longer at lunchtime? I understand that the main nap of the day should be at lunchtime as this carries on to toddler age. Also is it important to have a late afternoon nap if three hours napping is taken earlier in the day?

Also how much time should elapse between waking from the last nap and bedtime? I think I read about two hours somewhere but interested to hear what people's experiences are.

Thanks

My DD is 19 weeks and I tend to put her down for a nap when she's been awake for 2 hours as that's when she gets too tired. We don't follow a strict routine and sometimes her morning nap is longer, sometimes her lunchtime nap. E.g. yesterday she got up at 5.30 (!!!) napped 8.30-9.30, 11.30-1, 3-3.30 and 5-5.30. She went to bed at 8pm and slept until 7am this morning.

Sorry made a mistake her first nap was 7.30-9.30!!

Hi thanks for your reply. Can I ask how you get your baby to nap? Does she drop off by herself or do you put her in pram / bouncer etc?

Sometimes I can put her down put some music or white noise on and she will drop off, sometimes I have to cuddle her to sleep then I transfer her to cot or just let her nap on me. Don't really know if I'm doing things right she is my first baby and I'm still learning! I would say that generally she definitely naps more than 3 hours during the day and usually will sleep quite well at night, babies are probably all different though.