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Original poster

Question about baby naps - where and in what?

29 replies

liviadrusilla · 13/08/2019 18:09

Hello,

I'm expecting a baby in November. For the first six months I'm planning that baby will sleep in our room in a moses basket, before moving to a cot in the nursery. But what about daytime naps? Does baby need to nap in the room I'm in for these? If so, would it be ok for them to sleep in a travel cot downstairs? I'm reluctant to buy another cot or moses basket if not needed.

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Original poster
liviadrusilla · 13/08/2019 18:09

Meant to say the nursery cot is quite big so wouldn't fit downstairs or we'd just move that.

OP posts:
Bubblysqueak · 13/08/2019 18:10

We used the Moses basket from our room but had a second stand. At night they settled downstairs with us while we watched TV then carried them upstairs with us when we went to bed.

Readytogogogo · 13/08/2019 18:21

Ive used Moses then cot - you'll probably need to switch from Moses at 3/4 months as baby will be too big! The official advice is that all sleeps are in the same room as you, obviously entirely your decision whether you stick to that strictly or not. Travel cot downstairs might be a good idea if baby is happy to sleep in it.

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FenellaMaxwell · 13/08/2019 18:23

They should sleep wherever you are. The bassinet of the pram is fine for downstairs.

Yogurtcoveredricecake · 13/08/2019 19:12

We had a bedside crib in our room and a Moses basket downstairs to start with. He outgrew the Moses basket by about 3 months so he started having naps upstairs if we were in the house.

hormonesorDHbeingadick · 13/08/2019 19:20

Until 6 months all sleep should be in a room with an adult. We use the pram bassinet downstairs, Uppababy so it can be removed. When she out grows it she will sleep in the pushchair seat reclined.

hooraysuperworm · 13/08/2019 19:24

We used buggy so we didn’t tie ourselves to the house for nap times; at home it’s in her bedroom (it’s downstairs - old house with funny layout) but it means that when out and about we just lay it flat and cover with Snoozeshade and she can sleep on the go too. Naps in a cot happily at nursery, and sleeps in her cot no issue at nighttime.

She’s nearly 9 months now, but when tiny we just used buggy in kitchen for naps and only moved it to her bedroom when she was taking longer naps and being disturbed by me cleaning etc.

Buggy system was VERY useful when going through nap fighting stages early on, as a bit of pushing back and forth normally got her to give in!

Original poster
liviadrusilla · 13/08/2019 20:15

This is really helpful, thank you. Using the pram as the downstairs sleep space is genius, might get a travel cot too or will try moving the moses basket if it's not too disruptive. Good to confirm she should be in the same room as me for naps, presumably it's ok to get a cup of tea/put a wash on/go to the loo etc but just be there for the majority of sleep?

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ForeverBubblegum · 13/08/2019 20:34

Will the nursery cot fit in your room? I know it's not what you are asking but it might be worth having a plan for if he outgrows the moses basket before 6 months.

DS was massive and liked to sprawl so we only got about 6 weeks out of ours.

Florencenotflo · 13/08/2019 20:40

Dd would nap either in the pram, on her baby bean bag thing or in her swing during the day. Oh and on me! Love those newborn naps!! Once she was nearer 5-6 months I started to do her main nap in her cot and I'd have the baby monitor on. She wasn't keen at first and it took a while but we got there.

I think it's handy if they will nap anywhere, you're not restricted or confined to the house if baby will sleep in the car, sling or pushchair. Once she reached 2-2.5 and was only having one nap a day it had to be in her bed. Which is a bit of a pain if I'm honest. Now she's a bit older she can skip her nap but some days it's essential so we stay at home until she's slept.

stucknoue · 13/08/2019 20:56

To be honest both mine generally slept in my arms, I'm not kidding they were nightmares! The pram otherwise is fine

Original poster
liviadrusilla · 14/08/2019 09:45

ForeverBubblegum I think it will fit, but we will need to move out some other furniture and it will be down the end of the bed rather than next to me so it will probably be ok for when she is a few months old if she outgrows the basket, it's definitely something we could do to tide us over until 6 months.

I'm feeling so paranoid about all of this! I even was worried about baby sleeping on me because of all the advice about firm mattresses etc. I know you shouldn't sleep on a sofa with baby but presumably baby sleeping on my lap while I watch tv/read is ok? Starting NCT soon and hoping I'll get lots of parenting advice, so much conflicting information online!

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QueenEnid · 14/08/2019 09:48

Mine are 2&1.
DD slept in the pram for pretty much all naps until she was 2. We had a Hauck sit n relax which she used for naps when she was very young. Upstairs she was in the snuzpod overnight.
DS refused to nap in the Hauck or the pushchair. So he slept in the bouncer or in the snuzpod or his cot.

You'll find what works x

LauraPalmersBodybag · 14/08/2019 09:49

Your baby will be fine to sleep on you as long as you’re awake. You might find that she only wants to do that for the first few weeks/months. Congratulations x

QueenEnid · 14/08/2019 09:55

@liviadrusilla it's normal to be overwhelmed! We all are when we're new parents because it's all new and we want to do our best to get it right.

Try and be as relaxed as possible. There's no right or wrong. As long as you're not actively putting your baby in danger by dangling them out of the window or letting them chew the batteries out of the remote you're going to be fine! They really are robust 😁

Also remember that advice changes all the time. The advice given 10 years ago is different to now. It doesn't mean that an entire generation have serious problems due to xyz. Just do your best. Every day is a learning curve.

Yes you can put baby down and go to the loo. Or make a cup of tea. Just keep them in ear shot and you'll be fine. I used to put mine in the bouncer in the bathroom if they were awake and I needed a shower. It is a 100% certainty that as soon as you do something the baby will cry. If you're in the shower and your head is full of soap then, honestly, baby will wait the 20secs it takes to rinse your hair. Likewise if you're having a wee. Fgs finish having your wee!

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Kids are wonderful. Bloody hard work. But genuinely the best things ever ❤️

fee1234 · 14/08/2019 09:58

My 10 week old naps and sleeps in the sleepyhead. It's easy to carry round the house and I can sit it on the sofa if I'm downstairs.

Original poster
liviadrusilla · 14/08/2019 12:50

Thank you everyone, this is so helpful and I'm really grateful for everyone's reassurance. There is so much to consider! I even got really confused about whether cot mattresses need fitted sheets or if this counted as not having a clear cot!

OP posts:
welshweasel · 14/08/2019 12:57

Sleepyhead/pram/swing/bouncy chair/on my chest/in sling/in car....

PurpleFlower1983 · 15/08/2019 22:27

We didn’t get a Moses basket and glad we didn’t as it would have been outgrown by 6 weeks in our DD’s case.

PurpleFlower1983 · 15/08/2019 22:28

We have a Sleepyhead for downstairs.

ParkheadParadise · 15/08/2019 22:33

Sleepyhead
Pram
Swing
Both dd's spent most of the time sleeping In the pram, outside in the garden.

ohnonotyetplease · 16/08/2019 07:12

I realise what we did was against official guidelines (and I know they're there for good reason) but dd moved into her own room from our room in her moses basket at 5 weeks. We disturbed her and she disturbed us so it seemed that was the only solution. She still napped in my arms happily until about 12 weeks but then suddenly stopped that and had naps in her moses basket in my earshot. Outgrew the moses basket at about 17 weeks and took to sleeping in her cot no problem. Now all naps are in her cot unless we're out, in which case she sleeps happily in her car chair.
I was so so on edge and nervous when she was tiny but I have slowly grown to trust my instinct, and it's turning out ok thus far!

WhyBirdStop · 16/08/2019 10:57

DS only napped on me (or another warm body) , in his pram' when out our in the car, until about six months! A soft fabric sling was my saviour in the early days. He's always slept in a crib at night (we had a next to me) and he's been in his own cot in his room for a couple of weeks now and he's eight months. You'll find the way that works for you, or your baby will!

menopause59 · 16/08/2019 11:18

My son went in his own room in his cot on the 2nd night home it was the only place he would sleep so i just got a very good monitor.
Totally against all rules but you do what works for you

WhyBirdStop · 16/08/2019 11:48

@liviadrusilla yes to fitted sheets, DS has brushed cotton ones, and a soft waterproof mattress cover that does underneath just in case of any accidents, and his grobag, nothing else. When he first started sleeping through we had a few trial and errors with different nappies that wouldn't last all night. We ended up using nappy pants quite early on for night time as he's always been a wriggler.