my son was a shocking sleeper... and as a result we went to sleep school twice - which was the best thing we ever did.

Originally my son wouldn't sleep at all during the day - and would be absolutely feral in the evenings. He would scream for around 5 hours before going to sleep in exhaustion. (this was around 3 months old). Sleep school 'taught' me to settle him during the day, and he became so much calmer in the evening. But after a couple more months he was still getting uspset during the evening... just not as severe. So back to sleep school.

Then we realised that he was only having 40 minute naps, then I was getting him up. Babies have sleep cycles of 40 minutes - and most of them will stir/wake after that time. But we learnt how to resettle him - and within days he was getting solid 2 hour naps. At 5-9 months a babies sleep pattern ideally should be to play for 2 hours, sleep for 2 hours. As soon as we got into this habit - my son became the most happy content baby I've ever seen. His night sleeps didn't change at all... and he now sleeps right through the night from 8pm through to 9am. Then he just sits in his cot until we get up to him (great when we want to sleep in!).

He is 1yo now, and very active. When he is at home he gets a nap before lunch, and another one around 3pm. He goes to occassional care twice a week, and they have routines there (lunch etc)... so he has his nap after lunch around 12.30, and when he comes home he has another nap around 4pm.

It depends on what you want to achieve.
I am proof that getting more daytime sleep makes a more content baby and helps him relax and sleep well during the night.
Personally, I find it great when my child sleeps for 2 (sometimes 3) hours during the day. I get so much stuff done!!! The 40 minute naps he would have were quite annoying. If you want to try to extend the 40m naps, either leave your DD and she will resettle herself, or go into her room, and cofort her (ideally without taking out of the cot) - and she will go back to sleep. It took about 1 day for my child to go from no nap/40m nap to a solid 2 hour sleep. The night time routine might take a few days to a week to settle in.

If you want more information, contact me via email from one of my websites or in my profile.

At the end of the day - you should do what you think is best for your child and yourself. But if you want changes, then you have to change your routine. Babies adapt very easily.