Age to stop holding my baby for naps?

[Hickpusher]

So my LG is 9 weeks. She had quite severe reflux until about 7 weeks this seems to be under control atm. She also had colic which again looks to be improving. When bad with the reflux she wouldn’t nap unless I was holding her which was more than likely due to the reflux and being in pain when napping on her back.

Now she’s 9 weeks and much improved. She’s even smiling now 🥰 she still naps in my are combination of me not wanting to put her down and when she does go down she wakes 5-10mins later. I wrap her in a blanket fir her naps to help her go off but even lying on this in her sleepyhead she still seems to wake.

She is a fab sleeper through the night and will sleep independently in her next to me the majority of the time.

I know we’re still in 4th trimester so cuddles and contact naps are ok. So my question is when does the point come when I should be attempting to transition her to napping in her sleepyhead or does that time come at all?

Whenever it suits you and your DD. You might find that you get fed up with being stuck at nap time, or you might find she gets overstimulated by you when she's a bit older, in which case change it up. But if it continues to suit both of you then carry on as you are.

The age is whenever you want it to be

With DD she stopped being cuddled for naps at home (not including nursery magic!) at about 18 months. DS is 7 months and still gets cuddled for naps. He’s happy to nap in the pushchair when out and about but he seems to have a better quality nap when being held for now

Enjoy cuddles as long as you can.

They soon grow up and don't want them so you have to steal them lol.

3-4 months for us… before that my baby just would not sleep in the crib in the day time. (Even though he slept in it at night).

Just keep trying every now and again and don’t stress if it doesn’t happen, just try again a few days later and you’ll notice a difference when she’s ready.

@GemmaRuby thank you. I can’t really complain as she does happily sleep in it at night which is the main thing and I do love the cuddles of a day will keep practicing with some day times naps! X

My 11 month old is currently napping on me 😬

I think as she was so unwell/unsettled for the first 7 weeks of her life due to the colic and reflux and I got shingles when she was 6 days old and was quite poorly I feel like we finally getting to enjoy her not if that makes sense? So i love sitting down and just cuddling her whilst she’s napping. X

Cuddles and contact naps are always OK. I still feed my 2 year old to sleep. And my 5 year old is often cuddled to sleep. Sometimes DH and I even cuddle to sleep.

Neither of mine would nap properly in the cot before 6 months but they both slept through the night in it from 12 weeks-ish. Babies are strange! If you LO sleeps well at night then I really wouldn’t worry, especially as before 6 months you’re not supposed to leave them in another room. However, if you want a chance to get things done over nap time then I really rate a pram nap. It’s a useful habit to get them into as you’ll have no issue getting out and about over nap time. The movement is also great for getting them to sleep. And you can park it in the corner of the living room whilst you get on with things around the house.

DS was held for naps till he was 1 and then weirdly he just stopped. DD has napped in her cot consistently from 4 months but she's a classic second baby! Both of mine have been good pram/car seat nappers which is really handy.

At 2 my SC had had enough of contact naps and never wanted a cuddle again unless hurt or sick. So they tell you themselves.

Honestly try not to stress about it, we contact napped until almost 6 months. We stopped when I felt she was no longer comfortable and wanted to move around more in her sleep as she was getting more mobile. She started napping in her cot no problem when she was ready. Just enjoy it.

Fab thank you all. I’m thoroughly enjoying having her nap on me! It’s just that little niggle of the FTM when you get the usual rod for your Own back comments 🙄! She doesn’t like the car seat or the pram defo won’t nap in either 🤣. Not that that matters the cuddles will continue! X

You definitely aren’t making a rod for your own back! Your baby will never be worse off for being held, ever.

For as long as contact napping works for you, it’s absolutely fine to do it. My baby was held by me for 90% of his naps until he was about 7 months old, at which point it started making him restless. We transitioned him to cot naps at that point and he now pretty reliably naps in the cot. While it worked for us though, the contact naps were lovely!

I say enjoy it however long you want, people can be so judgemental but it's your baby. I'm writing this as my 1 year old naps on me, she wakes up if I'm not touching her (unfortunately during the night she's this way too, I'm glad you get a bed to yourself!). In some ways it's uncomfortable but it's nice too

Please get all that rod for your back nonsense out of your head. People always have opinions on how you should raise your children but it doesn't mean you have to listen. I wish I'd listened far less to others when my twins were babies. They are three now and still sometimes fall asleep on me One day they will be grown up and all I will have are memories of their cuddles. So until then I am going to savour every hug as much as I can.

I had 2 with severe colic it's vile. Do whatever feels right hon, just ride this wave don't try control it 💐