Where does your approx. 5-6 month old nap?

[Suzysuz]

At the moment baby naps in the pram downstairs, firstly so I can potter around a bit and still be close and secondly as husband works upstairs from our bedroom so we can't use the cot.

However he's growing and I want to change the pram to the buggy so not sure what I need to look at for napping downstairs?! I wouldn't have him nap in the buggy unless out and about as he wouldn't be fully laid straight out. He's also too big for any Moses basket now.

So where do your little ones nap?!

My boy is nearly 5 months and naps in my arms mostly...it is the easiest and quickest way of getting and keeping him asleep. I'm going to start trying to break this habit though and get him to sleep upstairs in the cot with a baby monitor on! Could you move the cot into his own room if you're ready for that.

You realise that daytime naps continue until around 3 years old? In the longer term it is usual to establish baby's lunchtime nap in the cot, when that starts becoming routine.

Are you never going to use the cot for daytime napping, at all throughout the toddler years? I think that may cause you a problem with an inquisitive toddler on your hands, they tend to sleep better at that age in a dark, quiet space away from any distractions.

While still a baby at 5-6 months then napping is much more easily done anywhere really. But longer term, your DH will probably need to start accommodating baby's nap in the cot within his working day.

It is at around this time, 5-6 months or so, that I move from downstairs naps and start establishing them upstairs ready for a more structured nap routine.

If that is absolutely impossible, do you have a room downstairs that you can set up long-term as a sleep space? I'm thinking a dining room or similar? I would set up a cot in the corner of the room - either a travel cot or even a cheap normal wooden cot and get some blackout blinds for the room. Then at nap times, start making them in a cot in the quiet, dark room.

Agree ideal time to start naps in the cot. If not possible then I'd go for a travel cot in a quiet room downstairs.

5.5 month old naps in his co sleeper in bedroom with monitor on. Curtains closed and music playing. Takes a bit of rocking to get to sleep but generally not too bad

If you have a baby that does not need to sleep on you for naps, you are onto a definite winner so I would try find a way to make cot naps work for your house layout.

We started her napping in the cot at 5.5 months and she has napped in the cot ever since (with the very occasional pram nap if out)

Thanks all - I think a downstairs travel cot may be the way.
DS starts nursery at 7 months part-time so some of his day naps will be there, also why, whilst I understand a quiet dark room is ideal, we've worked on him napping downstairs with daylight and some noise (but also using white noise machine) as this is what he'll have at nursery and I wanted to try and prepare him for that which has worked mostly okay (not always!).

The plan would be move naps upstairs in the cot but that will be when we move cot into other bedroom (still in with us at mo), haven't done that yet as a) didn't want too much change all at once with weaning, nursery coming up, separation anxiety phase etc (know that might sound silly to some) and also looking for him to be able to find and replace dummy himself or else I'll be up all night (!) where as easy to lean over cot from bed right now!

What about travel cot in baby's room for daytime naps?

It's the lowering down to a low base that I would find difficult at that age. Our main cot (used for naps and night) stayed on the mid-height mattress heights until about 10 months old when baby could be put in standing and would lie herself down.

If the cot is still in your bedroom is the obvious answer not for your husband to work in the nursery until you move the cot?

That makes perfect sense headintheproverbial

Mine napped on a playmat on the floor in the living room at that age.
(Playmat is inside a playpen)

Thanks all, travel cot in spare bedroom (which will be nursery) makes perfect sense.

Unfortunately husband can't work from a different room as we have a fitted workstation in our bedroom and the LAN IT cables (not allowed to use the wifi for work).

Thanks again for all the suggestions