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@grizz: at 8.5 months his naps still vary ; some babies aren't as schedule-able I think! We followed time frames, so his next nap was dictated by when his last one ended. Around 5.5 months it finally felt like a somewhat predictable schedule. When he was maybe 2 months I started trying other soothing methods first instead of instantly offering to nurse and he actually started sleeping better because he was eating more, less frequently and filling up. If that makes sense.

Our routine is pretty much the EASY schedule-I feed him when he wakes up and we play until he starts acting tired. Umm play is used looslely because it sometimes involves him watching me cook dinner, but we do something. Then he takes a nap and we start over when he wakes up. He is usually only awake anywhere from an hour to 1 1/2 hours and naps 45 to 60 minutes at a time, sometimes a little longer. It has made my days much more predictable and manageable.

I did what @sslm: did, but we had the 1.5 hour awake time at that age. Whenever they woke up, I would put them down and hour and a half after that. The schedule ended up shifting every day just a bit (ie. 2nd nap wasn't always at noon, but it was close), but it was somewhat similar every day. I also wouldn't allow a less than 30 minute nap. They had to be in the crib that long, even if it meant me sitting in there with them. Mine nursed on demand, too, but dictating the nap schedule, and thus the eating schedule (we did EASY too) helped a lot. I also have to add in here that I somewhat disagree with the if-it-works-for-your-baby thing- if having no schedule is fine for your baby but not you, then it's not necessarily the best thing for your family. We've adopted the philosophy that, if the kiddos are fine either way, what makes things easiest for mom and dad is what is best for the family in general. That may seem selfish, but everyone here is thriving, so I think it's helped us all.

at your LO's age, it was basically eat activity eat sleep. I think she had around 4 naps a day and they were all around 45 minutes-1 hour, unless I was holding her then she could sleep for hours She had 60-90 minutes of awake time. So basically I would nurse her, play for a bit- go outside, etc, nurse again, and then nap. I nursed to sleep for naps for the first 8 months so it was just easier that way, plus my LO is a frequent nurser so now way would she nap for a long time if she hadn't eaten right before her nap. I also did a "wind down" about 10 minutes before a nap. I would basically get her ready and let her know it would be nap time soon- sing to her and hold her, go in her room, turn on sound machine, etc.

We had no routine! We just got by and did what we can. My LO also ate often. Good for you for already waking up at the same time every day.... we were all over the place for a while! She was a terrible sleeper!
We didn't fall into any sort of schedule until 6ish months.