2mo 40minute nap unassisted or 2 hours when held

[EMC2022]

Hi All, my 2mo has had a preference with being held for his naps since about 3 weeks old. We have now reached a stage where he can be put in crib awake (most times) and he falls asleep with me just popping dummy in and sometimes rubbing his nose. However, he will only sleep for 40minutes. Then he wakes.

If I hold him for a nap he naps for 2 to 3 hours.

I can't tell if I am best to hold him for some or all naps or put him to nap in crib and try to resettle him in arms once he wakes (can take up to 40mins)

I just feel he is overtired when he has the short naps but holding the whole time is not sustainable forever.

I would love to what advice people may have or hear about other people's experiences.

At that age I was putting my boy to sleep in his bassinet on his pram as I could take him around the house with me mixed with contact naps. All depending on if I had things to do or not but at 2 months enjoy the cuddles and naps on you.

Well, coming from someone who blinked and my cuddly little baby is now a wild three year old who doesn't stay still, I say soak up the cuddles, it won't last forever!

I'm due my second in 8 weeks, and atleast this is what I'm telling myself. It may turn out to be rose tinted glasses when I'm tied to a baby and can't so much as shower. It really does go so so quick though. I miss holding my sleeping little baby so much!

Enjoy it while it lasts! I know it feels like you should be doing other stuff but really none of it matters. If I could turn back time I would tidy less and cuddle so much more!

Set yourself up on a warm comfy chair. Chocolate/cake/biscuits and a drink within arms reach. Tv remote/book according to preference.

Enjoy every last minute of those cosy snuggly days and don't feel guilty for a second.

I would go with just holding them, it's a luxury you only get with number 1 so make the most of it if you are planning more. My Number 2 napped in a sling and I longed for my days with number 1 when I had the time to hold her and just stay put.

Sleep will change, don't worry over holding them and all the creating bad habits nonsense.

I agree with this.
With my first I worried so much about encouraging bad sleeping habits that I robbed myself of so many cuddles!
Second time round I enjoyed all the snuggles naps I could and I don't regret a single moment of it.
Neither of them slept well regardless 😅

Thank you all for replies. I'm beginning to think my baby boy managed to pay ye all off to say to take all the naps as cuddles.

I guess I will continue having him as a hot water bottle for his naps and try the occasional crib nap to see when they naturally extend. In the meantime I will try not to worry about all the sleep expert advice that made me fear I will have an 18 year old napping on me if I don't get him in his crib ASAP!

Honestly, my son would only sleep on me. The first 6 weeks of his life we had to take it in shifts staying awake in an armchair holding him, it nearly broke us! That only stopped when I started co-sleeping (following safe co-sleeping guidance before someone comes for me) His naps were almost exclusively in my arms for months. BUT, by 7 months he had moved into his own room and all his naps and night time sleep was in his own cot. It got to a point he stopped sleeping better on me, and actually slept better on his own. It really will pass.