Contact naps
Are you curious about contact naps? If so, this post is for you because we’ll go over everything you need to know about the contact nap.
What are they? Are they good, bad, necessary. helpful? These are some of the questions I get about contact naps and I am answering them here in today’s post.
Simply put, contact naps are where you have your baby or child sleep on you or in your arms. Some people love them, some hate them, some people do them out of desperation because their child won’t sleep anywhere else and some people believe that this is the best and the only way that a baby should sleep.
So whether you do the catnap by choice or not, read today’s post to get a breakdown on what catnaps are, when to avoid them, when to implement them and how to transition your child out of them.
When are contact naps useful?
Contact naps can be so helpful in the newborn stage, especially if you have a particularly fussy baby or if you’re trying to extend a nap that ended too soon. Oftentimes, newborns (and even many older babies who cannot yet connect their sleep cycles), wake up 20-30 minute into a nap and with many failed attempts, are unable to get them back to sleep in the crib. When this happens, I often recommend that mom or dad hold the infant for the remainder of the nap to simply ‘save the nap’.
But I know what you are going to ask…Why should I save a nap?
For a few reasons; firstly, I recommend saving naps in order to prevent baby’s entire schedule from shifting too early. If you take baby out of the crib and end the nap after 20 minutes, her next nap will be much earlier and the next nap and also bedtime. Additionally, her feedings will likely also be affected, and you can see from here where the domino effect comes into play.
Secondly, to make sure that baby is getting a proper nap so that he is not cranky and tired during his next wake window. Taking him out prematurely when he hasn’t really had a full proper cycle of sleep will not allow for quality awake time. He will likely be clingy, irritable and he may even be too tired to stay awake for his next feeding and feed efficiently.
Thirdly, ending a nap too soon can perpetuate a cat-napping cycle, which I went into detail in another post about catnaps. You don’t want your baby getting used to being taken out right away the second he wakes up, especially if it’s too early because this will reinforce a cycle of very short cat naps that you want to prevent. Trust me on this one.
So all in all, you can see how a contact nap can be very helpful in saving a nap and why I recommend it in the first place. And if you find down the line that you are constantly saving naps (in general and with a contact nap) and it’s becoming a habit for every single nap, then you definitely want to start teaching your baby how to sleep more independently and remain in his/her crib for the remainder of the naps.
What are the Benefits of a contact nap?
Helps build that parent-child bond and connection through physical contact and closeness.
Can help establish a good breastfeeding routine.
Helps release the hormone oxytocin - a feel good hormone that makes one feel happy, calm and relaxed.
Can help promote better sleep for your little one
Can help your baby feel safe and secure
Helps calm and soothe your baby and promotes co-regulation.
And much more…
Are there times where contact naps are beneficial?
There are times that contact naps can be especially helpful for your little one and there are times when your baby is a great crib sleeper, but may sometimes do better being held.
If your baby is going through any major transition and needs that extra support, comfort, or closeness and connection.
If your baby is sick or unwell, he/she may need a bit of extra TLC in mom or dad’s arms, especially if they’re having difficult sleeping due to pain or discomfort.
If you have an increasingly fussy newborn who is not easily settled or soothed, a contact nap is a great way to help your infant regulate and sleep. This fussiness can happen at any point throughout the day, but it usually peaks in the late afternoon, early evening and parents often find it helpful to do a contact nap if their baby is adamantly refusing to be put down or sleep in the crib.
If you are out and about and your baby is having difficulty falling asleep in the stroller, a contact nap is a great way to help your baby get in some z’s. You don’t want to be out at a restaurant or a party with a screaming and overtired baby, so go ahead, let them sleep on you in a wrap or baby carrier so that your baby will be rested enough and not get overtired while you’re out.
When should a contact nap be avoided?
Yes, there are times that it’s beneficial to avoid the contact nap altogether and here’s when.
When you see that your little one starts putting up a fight at other nap times, at bedtime or In the middle of the night.
If your baby is unable to sleep anywhere else but in your arms.
If you see that your baby’s naps in the crib are exceptionally short.
Bottom line: if it’s hindering your baby’s overall sleep in any capacity and not helping, then I would say it’s time to make that transition from your arms and into the crib for more of the naps, as you want your baby getting used to napping in the crib. You can ease your child into this transition if you’re concerned it won’t go well and go slowly as you see fit.
On a final note about contact naps, while I don’t recommend holding your baby all day for all naps, it’s ok to nap your baby in your arms if you want or need to. There is nothing wrong with it and if it’s preferable to you to do the contact nap with your baby, then go ahead, It’s totally preferential.