Big/young baby nap dilemma - experience appreciated

[LondonKiwi123]

My baby boy is 3m old and 99th percentile in weight. Ever since he stopped feeding to sleep in the day at about 7 weeks, I've been rocking/walking him to sleep for naps.

I carefully watch for sleepy signs and know his comfy awake window. Even so, it's taking longer and longer for him to fall (succumb) to sleep and he's simply getting too heavy for me to continue. I used to do sling naps but my back couldn't take it anymore (tried today for first time in a while and he got really distressed). And, once asleep, he'll only stay sleep when held. Buggy naps are hit and miss, and anyway I can't be going out 4-5 times a day.

I know none of this is unusual but I don't know what to do. He's too young for any kind of nap training (right?) yet he's too heavy for this to go on for much longer.

If anyone has been in a similar position I'd love to know how you managed! Thanks in advance.

could you put him into the buggy, and then pop this onto it? it rocks the buggy so that you don't have to, and so might help him stay asleep

Similar situation here. DS is 6m old and 91st centile. He sometimes feeds to sleep but if he won't I sit sideways on the sofa with my feet up on the sofa too and my knees bent so that my thighs form a slope. Lay him on there with his bum on my tummy and his legs to each side and then sort of bounce/jiggle my legs. Created the motion that he needs to drop off but saves my back/arms!

@JKSN I just tried your sofa trick...just lots of screaming unfortunately! I think it might be because he's used to having his chest against mine when he's feeling asleep. Did you do anything to introduce the change gradually?

I had a very big baby too (not at birth but fed like anything!!) I fed to sleep, lying/resting on the bed as he got older...then once weaning starting I started to stop feeding before naps..so I’d put him in the cot once he showed of tiredness. When he fought it I’d lie on the bed with him lying next to each other and rock him into me. Slowly I didn’t need to do it and he’d go to sleep himself. Now I just feed before bed and he is 13 months...saying that we are currently going thro a very strange sleep situation!!

@LL82 thanks for sharing. I'd love to be able to feed him to sleep for naps. But he just doesn't fall asleep anymore, even if I do it when he's tired. Can you please elaborate a bit more on how you rocked him on the bed? I assume you mean your bed, not his?

@LondonKiwi123 if he's flailing about I let him hold my fingers then rest my hands on his chest. I do a similar thing if he stirs when I put him down in his cot, just rest a hand on his chest and shush him and he will often settle back down. Perhaps it would work for your DS if he's used to having the physical contact on his chest? To be honest DS isn't a great napper and seems to need contact, especially in the day, he's much better at night.

Hmm well I’d lie on my side and cuddle him in, shushing and rocking him in to me/soar of jigging him- does that help?

I use a purflo for DS since he was born to get him to go for naps.
It's always made him feel secure and he uses it still now at 10 mo. I would lay it on the sofa and sit with him once he has fallen asleep I take him out and put him in his cot. Purflo was only used with supervision though

Oh yes we use white noise too x