How Long should naps be for?

[Nic and Jackson]

My DD is 5 months old.  She doesn't nap well but on the basis of hoping that one day she will sleep longer than 45 minutes, how long should she sleep?

Is it 3 naps a day, say 2, 2 and 1 hour?

Is it best to have the shortest nap early in the day or later in the day?

thanks heaps

[*Natasha*]

I am guessing you are on 4hr EASY. How long is the awake time before naps?
This is what a day looks like for a baby on 4hr EASY.
E: 7.00 wake up and feed
A: 7.30
S: 9.00 (for 1.5-2hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 11.00
A: 11.30
S: 1.00 (1.5-2hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 3.00
A: 3.30
S: 5.00 or 6.00 or somewhere in between – catnap
Y: your choice
E: 7.00 (cluster feed at 7 and 9 during a growth spurt)
A: bath
S: 7.30 bedtime
Y: the evening is yours
E: 10 or 11pm dreamfeed (until 7 or 8mths or whenever solid food is firmly established).

[Nic and Jackson]

that's excellent advice.  thanks so much.
at the moment she is really on a 3 - 3 1/2 hour easy.  we are working on naps presently and they seem to be getting a bit better.  Your routine is exactly how i would like my day to be, but i am having trouble getting her to wake at 7.00.  (in the old days she used to).

These days she wakes at 4.30am at which time i feed her and put her back to bed but she won't go back to sleep until about 5.30 when i have  to go give her a pat and then wakes just after 6.00.  (if i'm lucky).  Some days we start at 5.00am - eewww.   If you got any thoughts to get around that one i'd greatly appreciate them.

Nic

[*Natasha*]

Early wake ups is generally a sign of overtiredness due to short naps. Hopefully once the naps get longer the morning will sort themselves out.

[Nic and Jackson]

Thanks Natasha
Well today was a great day for naps so perhaps tomorrow morning i'lll get a lie in. 
By the way congratulations on your news.  May you be blessed with an angel baby who naps well!!!
Nic