My baby used to only nap when in contact with me since birth. I often felt trapped, daydreaming about what I could do if she napped in her crib instead—like taking a long shower or cleaning the house. She always woke up when transferred to the crib, no matter how deeply she slept. I searched endlessly for a solution on Reddit but found none.
Then, magically at 5 months old, she started staying asleep when I moved her to the crib. For the past two weeks, she’s even resisted rocking and happily sleeps on a flat surface! Now, I can put her in her cot, sing a lullaby, pat her bum, and off to sleep she goes. She wakes briefly at 40 minutes, but I can quickly settle her back down.
To all parents struggling with contact naps: I understand your frustration. My 11-week-old daughter can’t sleep independently and screams when put down. Co-sleeping hasn’t worked either. For now, she sleeps on me, and sleep deprivation is tough. I hope as she grows, she’ll sleep in her own space, and I can rest too.
@Scofield I should attempt to get the baby to sleep in a stroller or pram initially, my midwife advised. They find it a little bit simpler because of the mobility. Try moving to the bed or crib after that. Maybe that would also work for you? If not, I completely understand; for us, things didn’t start to alter until 4.5 months later.