5 month old napping on me

[OctopusLimbs]

When my 5 month old naps in her cot she only sleeps for 40 minutes, but if she sleeps on me she will often sleep for a good hour and a half. As a compromise she had been doing two short naps in her cot and one longer one me. I really don't mind her napping on me (she's not a cuddly baby when awake, so enjoy a little snuggle when she's asleep!), but my health visitor said we should be giving her more consistency and letting her nap on me isn't great. Her night sleep isn't great at the moment (not really out of 4 month regression yet) and HV suggested this may be due to lack of consistency in the day. But I was under the impression sleep breeds sleep, so having a longer nap would be better? I guess I also thought if she practices longer naps on me, she might eventually transfer that to the cot? But she does also nap in the car and the stroller, so perhaps it is a bit too inconsistent for her. What are other people's experiences of this?

[JassyRadlett]

Honestly, this is why I think health visitors can be a bit of a waste of space.

Your baby is getting two naps a day in the cot and a longer one on you. There are many people who would be over the moon to have achieved that!

I agree that sleep leads to sleep, and in the long run you'll be glad to have a baby who isn't rigid about where naps happen.

DS1 was a hideous napper until he was 7 months old, he started napping two hours every morning and one in the afternoon in his cot, regular as clockwork. When he transitioned to one nap it stayed great until he was over 3.

DS2 was a fantastic napper when tiny but hasn't napped in his cot since he was around 5 months old. It's pushchair, on a person, on a bed after falling asleep on a person. Or on a mat at nursery. He's 18 months now, his nighttime sleep is excellent.

[FATEdestiny]

I think what you are doing is fine OP. Keep the cot naps going and then as these lengthen, you can drop the 'in arms' nap, leaving just the cot naps.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

My 8 month old has never napped in his cot. I've tried everything but he just cries and cries. He has a decent 2 hours am and 2 hours pm either on someone or occasionally in his pushchair bit of my when it's moving so we go for a walk. I'd rather he napped on me than not at all because he's a right miserable sod without it.

[OctopusLimbs]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! I was a bit dubious of the health visitor as she also seemed to be suggesting controlled crying with a 5 month old! But when night sleep isn't great, and she's been more challenging than usual when awake recently as well, you do start over analysing everything you are doing!

[Heirhelp]

You can never cuddle a baby too much. Ignore the HV who is giving very out of date advice.

[Heirhelp]

Where does she sleep on a night time?

[Summerdays2014]

My son is 14 months and will only have his naps on me (sometimes in the car) he sleeps in the cot at nights and puts himself to sleep. I wish I'd sorted it out earlier... I'd love to be able to put him down.

[TheFabledSnake]

My daughter slept on me until about 6/7 months. Only then did I work on cot napping. It seems common, I wouldn't worry.
Now she's 18 months I sometimes long for naps with her!

[OctopusLimbs]

She sleeps in her cot at night. She used to be a pretty good sleeper over night. Night sleeps are less good at the moment, but I understand from my friends with older babies the four month sleep regression often sticks around until after 6 months so we are just hanging on in there at the moment in the hope things improve over the next few months. But I do want to make sure I am getting day sleeps right, because I am sure that will help. It just seems very hard to help judge whether I am getting it right or not.