More CIO support needed

I;m going crazy here. His afternoon naps have been a disaster. I feel like I'm missing the timing of it. His am naps aren't too bad - 10-15 min of fussing, then out. Its the afternoon - he's been crying for almost 40 min. now. He's tired, I know he is - but I feel like I'm messing up the time. He's almost 8 months - its been 3 hours since he woke (well, now almost 4!) - maybe I should start that afternoon nap earlier?

This is making me feel so awful! I feel like its my fault he has to CIO so much b/c I can't get the timing right to start the routine KWIM?

Re: More CIO support needed

I didn't sleep train naps till his bedtime sleep was solidified.

Then what I did was schedule nap 2 hours after bottle, then id do a mini routine of what I did at night. Change into pjs, clotshe blinds a sip of water from bottle, a qucik story, a song, nite nite, close the door on my way out.

But honestly it never worked till his night sleep was perfect.

Re: More CIO support needed

Sounds like he's overtired to me - my DD is almost 9 months and only recently started going 3-4 hours in between her 2 naps without getting overtired. I would try a little earlier and see how it goes. If he's already rubbing eyes, etc., that usually means overtired. If he's just quieting down, that's the perfect time. My dd doesn't always quiet down on her own and give me a sign - when that happens I do it by the clock and a few minutes before naptime, I start the calming process and read to her a bit and then put her down.