Contact naps
My baby is 8.5 weeks old and still contact naps for EVERY nap. There’s no way we can get him in the cot or pram without his eyes pinging open. I read that this is normal etc for the newborn stage, but when does this begin to transition? I don’t mind this but I just can’t see him ever transitioning. I know every baby is different so I know there’s so specific answer. All of the advice eg, using a sling, put them down drowsy but awake, using white noise, making sure he’s not overtired do not work and he needs lots of rocking to settle him down to sleep. Does anyone have any advice or is anyone in the same position?
Ps. He sleeps through at night so it’s only daytime naps this applies to.
The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.
Learn more about our guidelines.
When they’re this little, they don’t know they’re a separate person from you and naps aren’t deep sleep, so it is super easy for them to wake up.
I really recommend a stretchy fabric sling wrap. They’re super cheap off Vinted if you don’t want to spend too much and they’re so handy for your LO getting those contact naps they love so much and you also having both hands free to do whatever you’d like! My advice with the sling is pop them in it whilst they wide awake and just get on with household chores, go for a walk, or just something where you’re creating movement. They still think they’re in your tummy and imagine how much jiggling about they were doing that rocked them to sleep, it’s just about creating a similar environment. My LO absolutely hates being in the sling when I’m stationary/sitting down chilling, but when I’m up walking she nods off
My LO is 6m now and we’ve been transitioning to exclusively cot napping for the past 3 weeks now and she’s getting on really well
thank you very much, I will absolutely give that a try. The only thing I worry is, he won’t sleep upright only if he’s laid down across me but as you say put him in awake and he might just nod off🙂
Yeah it might take a few goes to get it right and find what works for you! Do you drive? Sometimes when we’re going through sleep regressions and she’s absolutely exhausted and overtired but desperate to stay awake I pop her in the car and we go for a drive as the movement makes her nod off! It’s a bit inconvenient to do it but if you know they have a nap around certain times, maybe do the food shop then etc.
yeah he will fall asleep in the car but cries a lot first which is so sad to hear, I think he’s just very very sensitive to waking up as if he falls asleep on me if I sit down he can often wake up too😂 I’ve been doing a lot of research and it seems contact naps are the best place for brain development and security so I may just continue with it. It’s just difficult to eat, go to the toilet, get anything done.
This is the same for me my daughter is 9 weeks and will only contact nap during day she gets her self so over tired if we don’t have chance for a decent contact nap 🤯
as lovely as it is, it’s tough too isn’t it!
Yes!! I find it so hard to get anything done , my little one will eventually sleep in carrier but I still feel like I can’t do things the same 😅
My baby is 5 months and will only contact nap. If I need to get things done, I time it with putting him in the carrier x
which carrier do you have? My baby will only tolerate ours for 5 minutes max
I used the ergobaby embrace when he was little and now I use the ergobaby omni 360 - both from vinted though
Download the Peanut App
