No routine with 8mo due to inconsistent cat-napping

[hubb26]

Really struggling with DD who is cat napping, some days she does 2 naps others 3.

Currently she wakes anywhere between 7 - 7.30am and then usually put her down (in cot) for first nap after a 2hr 15 min wake window, but she always wakes up from this nap bang on 35 minutes. I have tried shortening and lengthening this wake window but nothing is helping to increase the length of the first nap.

I allow 2.5 hours of awake time before nap 2, which can be anywhere from 30mins to 45 mins (only longer if in pram) but she takes up to 45 mins to fall asleep, so this is pushing the final nap to around 5-5.30 pm and then she has a really late bedtime. If we don't do the final nap it's usually then 4 hours plus until bedtime at 6.30pm. But it's so inconsistent she ends up having a different bedtime overnight which isn't ideal.

Just wondering what the tips are for trying to lengthen and having a more consistent first nap in the cot? And also what your routines are at 8mo?

Thanks x

Babies this age (and older) struggle to link their sleep cycles which are about 30-40 minutes long. My 12 month old still struggles to link these cycles in the day. It’s completely fine and will come with time (plus their cycles increase to the same as adults as they get older).
Your DD just needs a bit of helping linking cycles - which is why the pram works as the motion will do it for her. I often go in to my DD and feed her back to sleep if she wakes after 40 minutes.
How do you get your DD to sleep? I would suggest doing that again when she starts to stir. So rock/shush/pat/sing/feed and you may find she goes back.
Good luck!

Thank @Brightandbreezey

I usually put DD down awake and she falls asleep within 10-15mins. Usually when she wakes up she is in a really good mood and very alert so wouldn't think rocking her or shushing her would work, but I could give it a go. She sleeps pretty well at night, often sleeping through or doing some fairly long stints with one or two wakes, so must be able to link her sleep cycles at night.

It’s different at night - there is more sleep pressure built up, it’s dark and pretty boring and circadian rhythms help babies out. So it’s not unusual for it to be harder to link cycles in the day.
If she’s happy and doesn’t seem tired then I wouldn’t worry that it’s a short nap… it may just be all she needs! Get her up and get on with your day together! 😁