Tips on napping

[CautiouslyPessimistic]

LO is 10 weeks and starting to fight naps. Up to now he's been happy sleeping basically anywhere during the day, but he's now napping only in the bouncer/swing chair, and only for 30-40 minutes.

At this stage with his sister I just sort of let it happen and wound up with a massive battle at 6 months trying to get her to nap in her cot instead.

Given that I can't put him down in his room in the dark for another 3+ months (safe sleep guidelines and not leaving them alone) anyone got any tips? If I just repeatedly put him down in the travel cot downstairs for every nap will he eventually get it? I couldn't bear this last time because it seemed to ruin every nap when she woke up after 10 minutes, but did I cave too quickly?

For reference I have: a downstairs travel cot containing a sleepyhead (which he used to love) and fitted with one of those blackout covers to make it darker. I also have a white noise machine in there. Honestly if I could fit I'd nap in it - it's very cosy.

NB: night sleep is generally excellent. It was rubbish to start with but he'll now do 4-6 hours in the Moses basket, quick feed, then 2 hour stints the rest of the night, so he clearly can sleep lying still and flat on his back.

I had a similar problem from around 7 weeks but made the decision to put my son down for a nap in his crib upstairs. Sometimes I sit up there with him and read or play on my phone but mostly I put the video monitor on and get on with having a shower, tidying up etc. while he’s asleep.

I weighed up the risks and decided on balance the risks are so tiny that it was worth it. He is EBF, we are non-smokers and we follow the rest of the guidelines but it was the only way I could get him to nap.

Thing is I don't really mind doing that from 4 months, when the risk starts dropping dramatically, but it makes me really twitchy to do it now. On the other hand I know another two months of naps in the chair is going to create such a sleep association for him that it'll be a nightmare to fix.

God I hate this stage - the guidance just contradicts literally everything which might actually work

My son slept in his chair for pretty much all his naps for 10 months - he went to nursery and napped fine in his cot there and slept well at night.
I now have dd who slept well in the Moses basket but at 7 weeks wakes herself up and the chair works better. I don’t want to end up as a chair lover either!!! I’m sure perseverance is key but that does involve tears!!! Not sure I’m prepared for that!!!

I would just got with what works. DD2 is 20w and her naps have changed massively in 10 weeks! It was only on me, car or sling at 10 weeks. Now it’s car or cot, very rarely buggy or me. I just kept trying the cot and it worked eventually.

I’m the same as you re:letting her sleep in the bedroom, but I just took my phone/iPad in for entertainment while she slept, now I will use the video monitor a bit. I think I started trying the cot around 12 weeks.