back to short naps

[mitten]

Hello,
well we're back to short naps with my 3.5 month old.
The first day I lenghten her A time she had 2 beautifull 1h1/2 naps. Her A time was 1h45 minutes (I made sure to look for tired cues, because I realized that I was taking bored cues for tired cues). But the day after she went right back to 45 minute naps. Today I kept her up for 2 hours, she was having no problem doing so. After two hours a got defenite sleepy cues. She went to sleep without a fuss.
Yesterday's routine
E-7am
A
S-9am(45 min.)
E-10
A
S-12am (45 min.)
E-1 pm
A
S-3 pm (45 min.)
A
S-5pm (45 min.)
A
S-bedtime around 7h30

TodayI was so tired I sent her to sleep early and skip the last catnap. She didn't feed well, she was to tired and woke up an hour later hungry.SO I guess that was a bad idea.

She usualy sleeps 7 hours, she has done 10 hours before.
So what do I try next.

[MJMom]

Have you seen the FAQ on the nap boards for 3-5 month old and extended naps?  It deals a lot with the 45 minute nap

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=85499.0

[deckchariot]

I would definitely work on extending her naps and moving her towards a 3.5 hr EASY.  I'm guessing you're feeding her every 3 hours because of the short naps?  I've been working super hard on extending naps with my dd (3 mos old), and I'm seeing some success.  We've been using w2s.  I go in her room at about 35 min, watch for her to stir/jolt/cry, if she cries once, I just watch, if she cries several time in succession (not calming herself), I step in and do shh/pat to try to get her back to sleep.  We found pu/pd too overstimulating for her, so I do not pick her up, but keep her in the crib.  The key for me has been not intervening too soon.  Sometimes, she will cry out (I believe Tracy calls it the Phantom cry) as she tries to settle herself, so I don't step in.  Only if she's crying in succession, not an isolated outburst.  Yesterday, I managed to extend 2 naps.  The previous 2 days, no naps extended.  I spent the whole time shh/patting her until her next feed.  Today, she's done the first nap on her own!!  I read on the boards that it can take 2 weeks or more to extend naps, so I'm prepared for relapse.  It's unbelievably hard and frustrating to stand there shh/patting for so long.  But when you are able to extend (even just by 15 min) that's encouragement to go on!

[mitten]

I don't want to work at extending her naps because I know she can do it by herself I have seen it. And I have a 23 month old that gets impatient after a while and comes in the bedroom making noises. I really think it's a matter of changing somethings in her day routine.
I was wondering if it could be a growth spurt. She was really hungry yesterday and having a hard time lasting 3 hours. Today  when I went to put her down fer her nap she gave me the hungry cry. She emptied me and went to sleep for 11/2, she also woke up every four hour last night and she never does that, unless she in a growth spurt. she had her three month growth spurt earlier then 3 months. So I guess I'll just see what happens unless someon else as any other ideas.
Also, it's a pretty mellow houseold here. I was wondering if even if she tired after 2 hours maybe she hasn't spent enough energy to have a big nap.
I will check out the activity forum to see what activity I could do with her.

[MJMom]

Based on every thing you mentioned, it does sound like a growth spurt.  Which means she probably is ready for extended A time now.  What I do with our 3.5 month old (Michelle, don't know if this will help you too) is I give her the tummy time and more physical activity in the morning.  I've noticed the mornings that she has more physical activity, her naps are much better.  If she seems still tired after breakfast, we'll have quiet A time and then after what we call 2nd breakfast (after hobbits!) we'll do tummy time and I'll stand her up, and sometimes dance with her. 
I don't like to do the physical stuff (or the gymini for that matter) after lunch as it does seem overstimulate her.  That's when a little rattle or reading or singing seems to be just enough activity.

HTH!
Alissa