what worked for you to extend naps?

[mommynow]

My dd has recently (last couple weeks) started waking after 40-1hr and I can't get her back to sleep.  I can tell she is still tired. 

What techniques worked for you to extend them?

She is 11 weeks old and on 3 hour easy.

[tylersmommy]

Well...how much time are you willing to spend extending naps?

When Tyler was that age, I'd quietly go in his room a few min before he woke up (it was always 25-30 min on the dot). I'd gently put my hand on his chest, thigh, wherever and rest it there. I kept it there while he stirred and started to wake. If he opened his eyes, I'd use my free hand to cover his eyes (he was easily stimulated by seeing things, so once he started looking around, it was all over). I'd stay there, not moving, until he'd drifted back to sleep. If he woke up crying, I'd do pat/shh while shielding his eyes. It worked most of the time, and eventually his naps got longer (for the time being, anyway). I ended up spending most of his naptimes in his room. It was worth it, but very time consuming!

[TrinaMGS]

Hi.
As soon as my little one woke up at the 45 min. mark I would go into her room quietly and NOT talk to her, but just re-insert her soother and after 10-15mins she would generally fall back asleep for another 45 mins.

[Gigismom]

nothing worked for us, so i eventually gave up.  dd did the 45 min naps from 8 weeks til about 6 months.  her naps got longer on their own.  now she sleeps usually 1.5 hours.