What the .... Is a contact nap?

[MakeMineALarge1]

Seriously just seen a picture of someone on mat leave, her baby is asleep on her, she's calling it a contact nap?
What the actual fuck, surely baby's just gone to sleep on her.

Is that what they're called.

I used to refer to said nap as "thank f£$k they've stopped crying and are finally asleep, albeit on me, and I've loads to do but netflix it is...nap"

My six year old still contact naps- ie she loves to be little spoon in my bed. And I love it too 😅

I asked the dog if he wants a contact nap and he just looked at me.

😁

My baby would only contact nap and hated the sling. It's a good thing she was cute. I wanted to murder everyone who said i should sleep when DC slept.

It's like when "Baby Led Weaning" came out as a new exciting thing.

No. Parents had been doing it for years. We just didn't have a collective name for it 🤦

Oh, god, this brought be back to the newborn days with a thump. Velcro baby, 100%.

I am very pleased that that worked for you.

It did not for me.

All babies are different.

Equally, sneering at how new parents refer to things has been around for years. I wonder what phrases you used that more experienced parents before you sneered at?

Having contact nap with hot water bottle and cat..

Agree OP.

See also: "baby wearing"

Yep, Thats pretty much what I called mine too. Never heard the term contact nap before!

I'm with you... When I was on mat leave, my baby spent far more time on me than off me, it felt as natural as breathing: breastfeed baby on sofa, baby falls asleep, we're both very comfortable so I stay on the sofa and watch more telly for an hour or so.

I know someone who says stuff like this. As though it’s revolutionary just because she’s got a proper name for it.

Yes, I think that's why I find terms like this so strange too.

Sneering? Wow.

Sounds like someone needs a contact nap as they're out of sorts.

I'll get chopping up all the varied foods now so you can have a BLW session when you wake up. 😉

By naming it, I guess.

I love when my DD contact naps, she's 18 months now and she hardly ever does anymore

Same here

Well it’s just a way off summing up that her baby is asleep on her.

On one hand, I know what you mean, it sounds pretentious. But on the other hand, it’s quite positive to give value to something like this. It’s good for the baby to fall asleep kn contact with the parents, and for the parent to sit and enjoy the time. There’s too much pressure to get the baby down in a cot and “get on with the housework” etc - so giving this a name gives it value. So overall I’m pro.

(My kids are waaaaaay past babyhood so not vested interest in this arguèrent)

Argument

Why do we need to call it a "nap" at all? It's just a short sleep... You don't have a problem with the term nap, being used to describe something that we could describe in other ways. Because by calling it a nap it's quicker/easier than saying short sleep or quick rest etc. and you know what it means! This is the same.

Terms are thought up all the time as things get discussed more often. In this case contact nap describes what it is pretty well.

We all know there's a difference between a nap and a contact nap

Still sneering

Meh, then you settle down with netflix and chill out with a snuggly baby, with snacks, a water bottle, and your phone charger within reach.

It can be claustrophobic, boring etc, but it's not difficult*

• And yes I've done it a lot, with my 3yo, that's spent a long time using me as a sofa in the months of recovery from life saving major surgery. At least with a baby, you get to choose the tv show 😉

You didn’t find it difficult. Well done you.

Other people who felt trapped did find it difficult.

Because it isn't the kind of nap society expects you to be doing. All this advice about 'sleep when baby sleeps', yeah I can't do that as she only naps on me on while I'm driving so that's not safe now is it. And people that complete college courses and stuff on maternity leave and I couldn't even get the washing done.

Eventually I gave up and started calling it contact napping and then people understood why I got sod all done all day.