No more nipple to nap - HEELLP!

[HabitualLurker]

My nearly 10 month old is a not especially good sleeper. Not awful, but he wakes 2-3 times a night for a feed. It's not ideal, but I'm just about coping.

However, I'm going back to work in a month and although I'm concerned that I'll be pretty knackered, my main worry is NAPS. I currently feed him to sleep, and then usually he can be put down in a cot for the nap. He has never gone to sleep for a nap on his own. When I go back he'll be looked after by his dad/my parents. His dad will probably be able to rock him to sleep, but to be honest it's physically difficult as the baby does struggle and I just can't expect my elderly parents to be able to do that.

How can I get him to nap on his own? I've got a month to sort it out..

You might find he will nap fine for them! I still have to feed my dd, 15 months, to sleep, but she goes to sleep just fine at nursery, for her dad, for gps etc when I'm not around. I think babies are pragmatists, personally - they don't waste energy holding out for what isn't available!

Pushchair? At nap time, get DH/dps to take him out for a walk? Fed, changed and clean etc?

I'm think I'm going to have to hope that when I'm out of the picture his behaviour's different, then! Unfortunately he hates the pushchair when tired and ready for a nap and just screams rather than sleeps. Contrary little boy.

I was hoping it was something I could work on over the month before I return to the office, but maybe it'll just be confusing for him to have me there but not offering a boob..

Thanks for the suggestions.

What about music? My mum can get my ds to sleep....it's a miracle, but she uses music. The same cd each time. It's a baby sensory one. She is so proficient now that he takes 2 tracks! Worth a try?

A little update to this - we spent a week with my parents on holiday and one afternoon they had him whilst I was having a nap and managed to get him to sleep! Hurrah!

I suspect it involved more crying than it usually would with me (but naps are not neccessarily tear-free when I give them), but he dropped off on my mum.

He does usually have music of a sort - some soothing nature sounds - so I'll make sure my parents have that on hand.

I'm now not so worried that he won't sleep with them at all.

Just have to deal with night-times now. Gulp..