Frustration with Napping

I totally get it. I had that problem with my first, and now my second is in the same habit. My best advice is to try not to let it bother you. Plan your life, and if she's napping, she's napping, and if she's awake, she's awake. Sometimes you will have to wake her to go someplace, and sometimes you'll be late, but that is life at this point. If she falls asleep on the way to the grocery store, either you drive around for a while before going in, or you wake her, take her shopping, and try to get her down for another nap when you get home. I know it's really really hard to be laid back about it, but I realized the second time around that my stressing out about it did nothing to change the situation, but actually made me feel worse. As she gets older she'll sleep more and be more consistent, but her little body is changing so much at this point that there's no point in trying to get her to be more scheduled. Also, try to remember that just because she's awake it doesn't mean she needs all of your attention all the time. She can go in the swing or on the floor while you do some dishes, or fold laundry, or check your email or get dressed. That way, when she does sleep you can veg out watching bad TV or nap yourself. I hope this was helpful and not annoying : )

My daughter was also a reluctant and inconsistent napper. I know it is hard for people to understand this when some other babies naturally take nice, long consistent naps- which just makes it more frustrating! It did get easier for us when we went to 2 naps a day instead of 3, just in the past month or so. (our daughter is 9 1/2 mos old now.) Try "anchoring" that first nap of the day. Our girl usually wakes at 6:30 (after waking to nurse first at 4am). But sometimes, she is up for the day as early as 5:45, and sometimes as late as 7:30. Her first nap is at 9am, REGARDLESS. I try not to plan things for the morning, because I want this time set. If she takes a 1.5 hr nap, which it always is now, she goes down for her next one at 1:30pm. (Sometimes, she wakes after only 45 min and is ready to be up, so we just put her down earlier- at 12:45- 1pm.) That one is now at least 1.5 hrs as well, but when she would still wake up after 35-45 minutes, well- we'd just put her down for an afternoon nap at 4pm to make up the difference. And bed at 7:30pm. Instead of trying to force a schedule for each nap- why not just start with one pre-set time, and float the other one(s) based on how she does for the morning? I have had to be pretty flexible on planning things in my life, but the upshot is that she is now on a schedule that is predictable,, and she is happy and well-rested. And if we are out doing something fun, or if I occasionally don't get her back on time for her nap and she goes down a little later- it is not a big deal- we have some flexibility. (And I just get it back on track the next day.)Hope that helps!

I can certainly feel for your situation. The best way is to stick to an absolute schedule without changing it due to when she wakes in the morning or when she naps. If she wakes at 6, start the day and put her down at 10 and again at 1. If she doesn't need a morning nap, put her down at 1. Leave her there like you've been doing and then get her out at 2/2:30. Put her down at 6:30/7. Do this for several days even if she's really cranky and miserable. This will establish her cycle and keep you sane. It will be hard to deal with her fussiness for a week before her schedule sticks

This is a hard one L.. So she is 6mo old. Does she sleep through the night? I didnt understand.

First off, I think 6pm is too early to put her down for the night. If she wakes at 6am-7am-ish, I would feed her, but not put her back down......... That is an ideal time to get up for the day, feed her get her dressed play etc... I would try.....

6am-ish get up for the day
9am nap for up to 1 1/2hrs
2pm-ish nap no later than 3:30ish
then play, dinner, bath and bed at 6:45pm-ish

This is only an idea........ I almost forget what 6mo old is like, maybe she needs more sleep. But that would give her 2 naps a day and a good nights sleep schedule. But honestly, at 6mo old, she is young, I dont think I ever got both my kids on a good nap schedule til closer to 8-10mo old. Hang in there........ Do as you please and dont let her hold you back from running your errins and having people over, it will only drive YOU crazy!!!
Best of luck.....