Will carrier naps make my baby incapable of sleeping alone?

[MassiveSalad22]

DC3 is 3.5 weeks old. She slept anywhere until yesterday when I had her in the carrier all morning, which I think broke her. We had the best day ever yesterday - I did a baby wearing workout and spent the morning playing and baking with DC2! But since then she has not really slept flat and on her own. I really like the carrier because it helps me meet everybody’s needs. But will I ever be able to put her down to fall sleep for herself – am I creating bad sleep habits? I made sure DC2 fell asleep on his own at least once a day from birth and it worked as he was an epic sleeper the whole time.

I know what a bad sleeper is (looking at you DC1) and we are nowhere near in that realm yet thank goodness. But very keen to avoid.

I know it’s normal for them to be held all the time at this age, 4th trimester etc, but at what age do I need to try and make sure she can be put down?

Also conscious that I don’t want to get a bad back and get touched out from all the carrying 😄

To add, she’s not sad or anything. She just sits there in bouncer/sleepyhead/pram looking around, dozing maybe sometimes, not crying. But never gets into that proper lovely restful still sleep.

Bump for the evening crowd! @FATEdestiny 🙏🏻 You really helped with my first born ☺️

My youngest had all daytime sleeps in sling until around 8 months and I held her to sleep at night until about 18 months. She's 2.4years now and has been independently sleeping for naps and nighttime since around 18 months.

My baby slept on me for every single nap until 10 months. Now at nearly 2 takes every single nap in the pushchair (something she never would have done before, and if so only for 30 mins). Hang on in there x

Thank you both! Did they need a lot of help to transition to sleep elsewhere or did they just get more independent on their own?
I’ve parented before and know it all works out one way or another, but just need to be told 😄 she’s fast asleep in the carrier now.

My baby had almost all naps in the sling from 3-15 weeks and then we gradually transitioned into bouncy chair then Moses basket. He always would sleep ok in the car or pram too but not nearly as long. I had the same concern at the time but I’ve since read and genuinely believe you can’t really create habits before about 4 months with babies, they’re just tiny little animals that need to be near their caregiver and so do whatever works for you. Once they get to 3-4 months start to be a little more thoughtful about what habits you are creating but also bear in mind if they work for you and your family then stick with them as long as they work.

I remember around 3ish weeks my baby, who I thought would sleep anywhere, suddenly wouldn't. So sling it became. For almost every nap (until I worked out he'd sleep in the pram as long as it wasn't in the carry cot bit).
I'd guess that your day in the sling might have coincided with no longer sleeping alone?

They tend to lull you into a false sense of security for the first few weeks, then hit you with the no sleeping...

100% use the carrier and don't worry about it at all. I used to do all naps in there for first 3 months, then morning nap in the carrier and lunchtime nap in pram until 9/10 months. Then decided I was sick of doing morning nap in carrier, and switched to putting him in the cot and it was totally fine! Would feed him / rock him a bit first. Then started doing lunchtime nap in cot too (unless was out in which case pram was fine). I used to worry I was creating bad habits etc and felt guilty but if I had another one would do exactly the same. It's also nice to make the most of them being close, and like you say you can also get on with other stuff! He's now just over two and sleeps really well at night, does his nap in the cot, and has just started to go to sleep independently at night time.

Oh more replies! Thanks. Good to hear. I know the carrier creates secure children too so that’s another pro. I still have a bad back from holding and rocking my now 7 year old for 2 years straight so reluctant to do that - he’s still has some problems falling asleep. My 4 year old has always been a brill sleeper though. Ok I won’t worry until 4 months ish then!! Baby will be in a hip harness until then too sadly so just going to survive until then and we’ll have changes when it comes off at that age too so maybe it will all just align on its own.

I still carry my girl, she's 2.5 now. She has been a great sleeper since 8 months, self settles and sleep through. She was bf so it was so easy to have her close. She still loves coming up in the wrap too, especially if there is a lot going on/over stimulated. It's great for them to feel secure and safe.

If your sling fits properly your back shouldn't be sore/get sore. I've had 2 spinal surgerys, lumber and neck, and have no issues.

She is also very confident and independent, which I read is another bonus of carrying.

Good luck.

DD had all her naps in the sling til she was around one and indicated she’d quite like to be put down She’s sleeping through in the room next to me right now. No problem at all transferring from sling to cot, or nursery naps, or (eventually) sleeping at night. Enjoy the baby-wearing!

DD slept in a sling / carrier probably once a day until she was one. Then more ad hoc. Still naps in the back carrier now sometimes and she's nearly 2. She sleeps all through the night in her own room and has done for a while. She took some naps in a cot from 12 weeks and did part of her night sleep in there from 6 months.

I wouldn't worry about doing it after 4 months either tbh, if it's still working for you then. Maybe just make sure you're mixing it up a bit so sometimes naps in pram, car, cot etc so they don't get used on only sleeping in the carrier? I never had much patience for rocking and either fed to sleep or just took him out in the pram, or did a bit of rocking sitting down and if it didn't work abandoned the nap and just let him play. I imagine things are slightly different when you have more than 1 child though.

My first took all naps on me for the first six months or so because of silent reflux. Then the reflux improved and she hit that stage where they want to sleep in a dark, quiet room so she moved to the cot. She's been a brilliant sleeper since she went to her own room at 7 months, albeit with the usual hiccups for teething and illness.

I will say that we did have nightmare bedtimes until nearly 3 I'd say, and I do think part of that was that she never learned to go over herself as a baby. So if you can work on it occasionally I would, but it sounds like the sling works for the whole family ATM, don't discount the importance of that.

Also since my OP she’s gone in this bloody hip harness which stays on 24/7 for 3 months, and means she no longer fits in sleepyhead (I know they’re not recommended anymore) OR carrycot part of pram as her legs are held too wide! So the carrier works so I am just going for it ha. Thanks all for the reassurance. I forget babies change so rapidly anyway you can’t really plan ahead. Do whatever works today right? Thanks all!

I have local sling lady coming round tomorrow to sort the fit out 😃 feeling better now!

A baby doesn't need to sleep alone.

A ring sling is great, and they can feed and sleep in there.

Mine slept alone at 2 years but it was still a struggle.

Eventually everyone will sleep alone at some point.

Mine had all her naps in the sling for a few months and then suddenly refused it. Definitely did not create any bad habits and she was done when she was done. Keep them close while you can and enjoy it without guilt.