Day Time Naps (HELP)

[charlie293746]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice, my 7week old baby has started fighting every single daytime nap, unless contact napping.

He used to nap in his moses basket, in the car or pram without any problems (rarely had to spend more than 5 mins settling him).

However now he just fights it, after 30/45 mins I give in and contact nap but can I change this or is it just a phase?? He's only getting 1.5/2 hours sleep a day naps because of how bad he fights them and if we are out just will not. I'm sure it's because he's becoming more aware and just fights it by looking around the room.

His night time sleep is pretty fab and i'm worried napping him in his cot in the dark during the day is going to confuse him and mess with the night sleep??

and ideas?

TIA from a confused ftm xx

He’s definitely becoming more aware and wants his mummy close to him when he naps now. It’s completely normal baby behaviour… they just want (need) us close in order to feel safe. I don’t have much advice really because I just enjoyed the contact naps on the sofa when at home, and got a sling when I needed to do things and had my LO close for all naps up until she was about 11/12 months old.
I know this isn’t for everyone though… and I’m sure yon’ll get some others who can advise you on alternatives. maybe movement will help - have you tried the pram? (My LO hated napping in hers!)
But honestly your baby is just needing you close - it’s a survival thing and completely normal.

Yep 6-7 weeks was when my baby stopped being able to nap anywhere at anytime. She started cat napping 45 mins unless we contact napped. I believe there is also a biological change in sleep at that time too. It's worth contact napping to avoid the overtired baby disaster at the end of the day. I struggled with contact napping at first and gradually I just stopped fighting it and started to enjoy it. I listen to podcasts with headphones on if I want something to do. Still contact napping now as it's one of the only ways my baby will sleep. Good luck x

I spent a lot of time worrying about this when it happened to me! I got a sling so that I could still move about during naps. It was the only way he would sleep. It made getting out and about difficult so I used a carrier more than a pram. At 5 months he just decided to start sleeping in the car and pram again so I started trying to put him down for naps and that improved.
I spent so much time worrying and he just changed things all by himself without me doing anything different so it won’t be forever!