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there’s definitely something to age ... we did some sleep training this past time but it all just clicked at 7m (we started training loosely sometime after 6m). But it sounds like you are doing the right things ... I’d definitely try to focus on putting down awake and making sure he’s not overtired. I don’t think you’ll need any hardcore cio but if you let him fuss a bit going down it may help teach him to put sleep cycles together himself. Like when I did naps for this past baby, I would put her down at the first sign of tiredness (I tried not to nurse to sleep) and set the kitchen timer for 20m. I couldn’t have a super set schedule since she is #3. As I said she was a month or so older but it clicked pretty quickly. A few times I went in at 20m and calmed her before leaving again, but mostly she was out in those 20m. It has been awesome! Every kid is different but maybe some things you can consider. Good luck it’s so amazing when they nap better!

@Umbreon: it’s going to work better with some kids than other but yes totally awake ... I mean he should be tired (either because you’ve seen ANY sign or the clock says it’s time) but no help from you like rocking. You can have a book routine if you want or something like that but to be honest I didn’t at that age. Some kids a little routine helps but I don’t think you want any eye closing. Nursing - sometimes you can’t help nursing before a nap but for me, I tried to keep awake during nursing if she seemed to be drifting off because that didn’t help us. Again you have to see what works for you but it has been totally amazing to put down and walk away! And if it doesn’t work now I’d try again in a month or so. The idea is if they can go to sleep the first time without help, they can go back to sleep mid nap without help.

DD is 5 months too and we are in the same boat. Her first nap is usually almost an hour and then she take 3-4 30 minute naps throughout the day. Frustrating for sure, but I think it will just work itself out with time. Like you, I put her in her crib, dark room, fan, etc. (for what it’s worth, I rock her a bit before naps and bedtime too, and don’t plan on stopping. It works great for us for now, and she sleeps 11 hours at night.)

@Umbreon: nap sleep and night sleep are just totally different kinds of sleep. It’s less deep and they are just not as easily going to fall back asleep/make the sleep cycle transition.
It will happen! It takes time for sure.

I would definitely cut out any rocking to sleep. Even though technically what you were doing (as soon as eyes close) is drowsy but awake, it might be a little too much.
Also since he’s quiet, definitely don’t go in and get him. You can extend little by little. But my guys are/were the same - they wake up but don’t cry (usually). So I leave them in there for the entire length of what I want the nap to be. It teaches them that even if they wake up, maybe it’s not time to be up yet. They do have an internal clock and sometimes it just needs to be trained. It doesn’t have to be cio.
If you want nap to be a minimum of 1.5 hours I would work towards that. If he wakes at the 30 min mark and is quiet, leave him till he’s not. I know you won’t do cio but will you let him fuss a bit? It’s really really important for them to be able to put themselves back to sleep and learn the length of a nap which can mean some fussing. If it elevates to crying you can go in and comfort (replace paci, rub tummy, pick up for a brief minute, etc) then go back out. Sometimes they just need the reassurance that you’re there. It’s still nap time, but you’re there.

Even now my 18mo will sometimes wake early from nap. His nap is 2.5-3 hours most days. But once in a while I’ll her him at the 1 or 1.5 hour mark and he’ll sort of fuss or cry out (like a quick WAH) and if I just leave him he’ll go back to sleep. I know the urge to go in, trust me. And I don’t really do CIO for naps (weirdly I am ok with it at night but not daytime). But I definitely let him “FIO” aka fuss it out. because if you keep going in when he wakes at the 30-45 min mark you are only reinforcing to him “yep it’s Time to wake up. Here I am!” So then you can’t really blame him. You’re the reward Just like I hear some parents put in the TV when their kids wake early so they can sleep a little more. Say 5:30am. And then they complain that their kid is up every day at 5:30am. Well, they’ve learned that they get the TV so that is the reward for waking at 5:30am. I know it’s not entirely the same, but similar idea.
It’s not a punishment to make him wait a little. You’re instead giving BOTH of you a great gift of good sleep!

@Umbreon: That makes sense! But, I’m also of the opinion that babies don’t really use crying for emotion the same way we do. Yes sometimes. But usually it’s just how they communicate because they can’t just say “hey mom, I’m up, come get me!”
But I get what you’re saying! If the baby cried a lot you’d be more desensitized.

Max wake time for both of my boys at that age was 1-1.5 hours. And yes, definitely time awake in the crib counts as wake time. My 18mo occasionally wakes at 2pm instead of 2:30 or 3. I leave him if he’s quiet. But when I figure out his bedtime for the day I do it from 2pm. So he’ll have an earlier bedtime on those days.
Definitely don’t worry about extending wake times at this point. It’s not until they get to 1 nap that you need to TRY to keep them awake longer. Let him take the lead. Are you familiar with sleepy signs/signals from the baby?
They usually say that yawning is too late. Like past optimal nap time. So if you’re using yawning as a signal, it’s POSSIBLE that he’s overtired and that’s why he can’t stay asleep. Overtired and wired is not just inability to fall asleep, it’s also to stay asleep.

And 100% if your baby is in a sleep deficit, it’s ok to let them sleep on you once in a while. Sleep deficit, sick, etc. It happens! I’m not a monster especially at that young age it had to happen from time to time that I held him for a nap (my youngest. My oldest really never needed it). It takes 3 days straight of doing something over and over for it to become a bad habit. So if you have to hold him once in a while it’s not going to derail everything. So if you know he hasn’t had a good nap all day and you want him to just get some good sleep - give yourself permission to put your phone on silent and veg out while you hold him for a nap. Don’t do it all the time. But occasionally is very much ok!

@Umbreon: that’s awesome! Not all kids are bothered by light by my son always really benefited from blackouts (still helps him settle at 4)

@Umbreon: That is so great! I'd like to thank myself for reviving this thread, bc that's probably what did it.

Our night sleep has gotten WAY better over the past couple of nights (knock on wood). He's been putting himself to sleep and last night he woke up twice but was able to settle himself back down in 5-10 minutes without any help. Yay! I am hoping things continue to trend in that direction and that eventually it'll translate to better naps (which are still basically crap).