Holding baby for naps - quick question!

[Sarahcollison]

Hi all,
I have an 8 week old who until recently would only nap in a sling in the day however sleeps well in his crib at night. I've just recently been able to soothe him to sleep in my arms but have to hold him for the entire nap or he wakes up.
Is this normal for a baby this age or should I persevere with putting him down for naps? He doesn't sleep in the pram which is restricting us going out or I have to sling him when out to save the tears.

Any thoughts or experiences welcome, thanks.

I used to hold my baby for naps. Saves my sanity after trying to get him to nap in his Moses basket. I used to settle down in front of the telly and loved it. When he started nursery at 10 months he napped there no probs and napped in his cot at home. He is now 2.2 and napping in his cot. I'd say enjoy it if you have the time to allow it.

My baby still prefers to nap on me and she's nearly 6 months. If I put her down she wakes instantly. I'm trying to put her down more but I usually give up mid afternoon when we are both shattered. I'm hoping to get it sorted before I have to go back to work after Xmas.

I am currently snuggled up on the sofa with dc3 fast asleep in my arms :), we have done this regularly since he was born, he is now 5 months. If you want to persevere with putting him down then fine, but if like me secretly love it and have the time then don't worry about it!

To be honest, I do love it! I just worry that when I go back to work she won't be able to nap when someone else is looking after her!

My DS slept in my arms for his naps from newborn until about 13 months, he now sleeps on the sofa (still doesn't like his cot in the day). I miss the cuddles more than I thought I would!

If you have time to do this I would say indulge completely and enjoy the snuggles whilst you can!

Try adding sheepskin to babies pram and Moses basket. Put baby in baby sleeping bag or swaddle before you hold them to sleep, so that once asleep if you want to move them they don't get such a shock from being warm against you to cold in Moses basket/ pram.

I would pop in basket with sheepskin , in sleeping bag and hold hand on them gently so they still feel you for a few moments whilst adapt to new surroundings.

The sheepskin will stop them getting both too hot or too cold.

Try having a cloth laid over your chest while you hold him then you can lay the cloth down with the baby so he still has your smell and the same texture iyswim.

I’d perservere with the pram as that will make your life a million.times easier but at home I wouldn’t put too much pressure on putting him down if you don’t mind the cuddles, my 15mo still has quite a few naps on my lap.

Don't worry, my daughter was a terrible napper when she started nursery at 6 months, but they were great. They got her into a routine that I would never have managed on my own and she settled in fine.

Enjoy your snuggly baby, my youngest had now grown out of this and I miss it so much! Nothing nicer than holding a sleepy newborn

My DS is 12 months, he is the biggest cuddle/hug monkey ever. He co-slept with me for 10 months, and then we slowly weaned him into sleeping in his cot with big sister (2y.o.) sleeping next to him in her bed. I had pneumonia and it became impractical. It was a battle to get him used to it but he is now. He used to nap on me all the time. At nursery he was/is fine, or whenever I am nowhere near him, he is fine also. But my goodness if his mummy is within sight and he feels like a snooze, he will be tugging at me for cuddles, and will try to nap on me.

I don't fight it because soon he will not want to be so snuggly with mummy.

He does nap on me when he is teething, poorly, or just restless at night. Whereby he snuggles into me whilst we watch TV and periodically opens his eyes to check I've not snook him back to his cot. Maybe once a fortnight he somehow ends up back in bed with us.

I would indulge it if you like it, I don't think any harm can be done from having an enforced sit down on the sofa for 30mins or so. :)

Thanks all! I just wondered how normal it is really. I would love him to nap in the buggy as I always end up having to take him out in the sling instead. I suppose I'll just have to see if he changes in time as is still so little.

I will try the sheep skin idea too, I do wrap him in a blanket already and I can sometimes transfer him to his car seat and he'll stay asleep for a short while. He seems to prefer being sat up to laying flat which would explain the pram and crib not working, perhaps being sat up he still feels like he's being held!

You could try a small towel folded at one end and placed under Moses basket matress , it will just raise end slightly whilst still being safe for baby

Mine had reflux and couldnt lay flat, I wonder if it’s something to consider? Does he lay flat at night?

It was about 12 weeks I found dd was more willing to nap in non moving pram or cot, although she would happily nap in the pram when out earlier.

It's up to you but I found it really hard having to sit still for an unknown amount of time while dd was napping, when I wanted to just pop to the loo, make a sandwich or do someone dishes. Snugly naps are lovely but not for hours on end every day.

DS had all his naps on me until 3.5 months.

He goes down in his cot now but we do still have the odd emergency catnap where he'll fall asleep on the boob and I'll cuddle him for half an hour.

I love it!