Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks | Tips And How To Stop Contact Napping

Introduction

Understanding Contact Naps

Contact naps refer to the practice of a baby falling asleep while in physical contact with a caregiver, typically by being held, rocked, or even just being in the same room. This can involve the baby sleeping on the chest, arms, or lap of the Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks caregiver, or even just being close enough to feel the warmth and comfort of their presence. Let’s delve into the nuances of contact napping to provide a full perspective for parents.

Read More: Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks Start Bad Habits

What is Contact Napping?

Contact napping is when a baby or toddler sleeps with their little body on top of—or squished against—a parent. This practice is different Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks from co-sleeping, which can occur without any actual body-to-body contact. Unlike co-sleeping, with contact napping, the parent can (and should!) be awake.

Is Contact Napping Safe?

Contact napping is only safe if your baby is the only one sleeping! The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that it’s “imperative that Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks the mother/caregiver who is providing skin-to-skin care be awake and alert.” That’s because when you accidentally nod off while contact napping, you lose two key elements of safety: Your attention and your conscious grip of your little one, which puts your baby at risk for dangerous falls and maneuvering to an unsafe position.

While you can promise yourself you won’t fall asleep during a contact nap, the truth is, accidentally nodding off during a contact nap is Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks terribly easy to do. “I’ve gotten too many emergency calls in the middle of the night after a sleeping baby perched on their parent’s body has fallen to the floor,” says Dr. Karp.

In fact, over 40% of parents surveyed have fallen asleep on a sofa or armchair with their baby in their arms. These accidents can even happen in the hospital with a team of nurses and medical personnel all nearby. One hospital Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks reported that over half of their nearly 300 neonatal falls occurred after a caregiver fell asleep while holding a newborn. Several more reports found that 36% to 66% of all in-hospital neonatal falls involved caregivers nodding off.

How to Make Contact Napping Safer

The only safe way to contact nap is to be fully Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks awake while your little one snoozes. Here are some Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks ways to keep yourself alert while your baby naps:

1. Enlist Another Adult to Keep Watch: Frequent monitoring by another grownup who’s not involved in contact napping can help ensure that you stay awake—and your baby remains safe, notes a 2022 report in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing.
2. Don’t Sit in a Sleep-Inducing Seat: Resist the urge to offer a contact nap in rocking or reclining chairs—or bed, where you are far more likely to doze.
3. Wear Your Baby for a Walk: Babywearing on-the-go is a wonderful way to lull your little one to sleep while offering a taste of their beloved womb experience: A warm embrace, gentle motion, and the hum of sounds. (Learn more about wearing your baby safely.)
4. Wear a Wrap in the Hospital: It can be safe to fall asleep during a skin-to-skin contact nap in a hospital setting if you’re Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks wearing a “skin-to-skin care safety device” (a special wrap that helps you properly position and hold your infant during a contact nap). Talk to your care team to ensure the wrap used explicitly states that it supports sleeping.

The Answer to the Initial Question

The initial question, “Do contact naps before 12 weeks” can be answered generally as no. We use contact naps often to help ensure that the baby is getting appropriate daytime sleep and isn’t overtired. However, if your baby 100% relies on contact napping and is not able to sleep on their own independently at all Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks, this is a definite indicator that there are needs not fully being addressed, especially if they are nearing the 12-week mark.

Do You Have a Velcro Baby?

Velcro babies are babies who will only sleep on you, with you, or next to you. When you try to put them down, they immediately wake. Velcro babies generally want to be attached to you all day when awake as well. So, depending Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks on your baby and their needs and temperament, you may have to assess this question for yourself.

Contact Naps: Everything You Need to Know

Contact napping might be a new-ish term, but the act of having your little one sleep in your arms or on your chest has been around for as long as Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks babies have been born! But that doesn’t necessarily mean contact naps are the best sleep solution for your baby. Read on to learn why newborns adore contact naps, how skin-to-skin snoozing benefits babies and parents, and where safe sleep comes into play when considering contact napping.

Contact Nap Benefits for Baby

Babies love to be held! The snug embrace of your Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks arms mimics the comforting sensation your baby enjoyed for 9 months in the uterus, which helps them feel safe and loved. That’s why pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp has been known to call the act of snuggling close to a sleepy newborn “womb service.” That’s also why kangaroo care—holding your diapered baby on your bare chest—is a staple of care in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and a strong recommendation for all newborns. Engaging in kangaroo care has been shown to help…

• Quiet cries
• Regulate Baby’s heart rate and breathing
• Aid weight gain
• Regulate Baby’s body temperature
• Improve breastfeeding success
• Improve chances of an earlier hospital discharge
• Boost bonding

Do Babies Sleep Longer with Contact Naps?

Not always. But we do know that during Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks skin-to-skin contact, most newborns easily fall asleep within a few minutes—and they achieve deep sleep for an hour or more, which is especially beneficial to a baby’s developing brain.

Contact Nap Benefits for Parents

Skin-to-skin contact napping is good for all parents Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks…including dads! In fact, a 2022 report in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that kangaroo care/contact napping enhances the bonding and attachment between fathers and infants. Plus, more research has shown that kangaroo care can help…

• Lower blood pressure
• Lower heart rate
• Reduce cortisol levels
• Reduce feelings of depression and anxiety
• Increase oxytocin levels
• Increase relaxation

Can Babies Become Reliant on Contact Naps?

Yes. “The biggest habits that lead to poor sleep are bedsharing, being put in bed asleep, and falling asleep while being held,” says Dr. Karp. “Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks” When your baby regularly sleeps on you, they begin to learn that sleepytime occurs in your arms, not the bassinet.” That means, it’ll become more and more difficult to lay your growing baby down in their safe sleep spot to get a full night’s rest. To help avoid sleep problems later, you need to focus on sleep cues and routines now that will teach your baby to self-soothe. Which means:

• Using the Wake-and-Sleep Technique: “The best way to start removing a dependence on being held to doze off is to use the wake-and-sleep technique every time you put your little one down to sleep Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks,” says Dr. Karp. In short, if Baby dozes before you transition them from your body to the bassinet, gently rouse them with a light tickle until their eyes open. After a few seconds, your little one’s eyes will close again and slide back to sleep.
• Add Other Soothing Sensations to the Mix: “It’s easy to enjoy as much holding as you want without causing sleep problems,” says Dr. Karp. “All you need to do is add other soothing sensations to your bedtime Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks mix, like white noise and swaddling, along with the wake-and-sleep technique.”
• Consider SNOO: “It’s not easy being a walking uterus!” says Dr. Karp. “Doing everything your uterus did—holding, feeding, nurturing your baby—takes all day long. Yet, as hard as you’re working, your baby thinks being in your arms for just 12 hours a day is a rip-off!” To help, Dr. Karp created SNOO, the responsive smart bassinet that soothes babies and promotes sleep with the calming trifecta of womb-like motion, safe swaddling, and all-night white noise.

When Should You Stop Contact Naps?

That depends. Do you consider contact napping a good baby sleep cue or a bad baby sleep cue? “Good cues help your baby fall asleep fast—and stay asleep longer—yet they’re easy to use, require little effort on your part, and are easy to wean,” says Dr. Karp. “On the other hand, bad sleep cues may get your baby to sleep, but they’re inconvenient,

very demanding on you, and difficult to wean.” As soon as contact napping falls into the latter bucket, it’s time to stop. If your baby won’t sleep unless held and you’re wondering, How do I stop my baby from contact napping?, follow Dr. Karp Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks’s advice for transitioning your love bug to the bassinet.

Reasons You Might Want to Contact Nap with Your Baby

Sometimes a contact nap is the only way to get a long nap in for your baby in the early months, and if your baby is under 4 months, they really can be a great tool for lengthening naps!

1. If your baby is a newborn, enjoy those snuggles! (Safely, of course.) Napping on your body, or wearing them in a wrap or carrier Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks are both great options when you’re out of the house or your baby is fighting naps.
2. They’re sick.
3. Their sleep was thrown off and they need a restorative nap.
4. You’re in a new environment.
5. You just want a good cuddly nap.

These things may be reasons you want to contact nap for every sleep or less-consistent situations that you feel contact napping is Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks what’s best!

Reasons You Might Not Want to Contact Nap with Your Baby

Sleeping with your baby on you can be a great bonding opportunity for you both. However, contact naps can easily become “needed” by your Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks baby at every nap and bedtime if no other nap style is ever introduced. If you prefer it that way and it’s working for you, then there’s no reason to change anything!

For some parents though, this is not something that is practical for every nap every day, and there are a few reasons you might not want to (or Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks be able to) contact nap with your baby:

1. You want to do something else (eat, sleep, shower, have time to yourself, work, watch a show, etc.)
2. You’re touched out
3. You have other children to tend to or spend time with
4. You’re returning to work

Babies get used to what they are introduced to, and if your baby is used to ONLY contact napping, that’s what will be their understanding of nap time and it takes time to introduce change.

Practical Tips for Managing Contact Naps

Establishing a Routine

Establishing a consistent nap routine can help your Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks baby understand when it’s time to sleep and make the transition to independent sleeping easier. Here are some tips:

1. Create a Calm Environment: Ensure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Use a white noise machine to block out disturbing noises.
2. Use a Sleep Sack: Swaddling or using a sleep sack can help your baby feel secure and comfortable, mimicking the sensation of being held.
3. Introduce a Lovey: A small, soft toy or blanket can provide comfort and become a sleep association for your baby.
4. Consistent Timing: Try to put your baby down for naps at the same times each day to establish a predictable routine.

Gradual Transition

If your baby has become reliant on contact naps, gradually transitioning them to independent sleeping can be more effective than an abrupt change. Here are some steps to help with the transition:

1. Start with Short Periods: Begin by placing your baby in their crib or bassinet for short periods while they are drowsy but not yet asleep. Gradually increase the time they spend in their sleep space.
2. Use the Wake-and-Sleep Technique: If your baby falls asleep in your arms, gently wake them before placing them in their sleep space. This helps them learn to fall asleep independently.
3. Provide Comfort: Stay nearby and offer reassurance if your baby becomes upset. Gradually move further away as they Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks become more comfortable with independent sleeping.

Addressing Underlying Issues

If your baby is consistently unable to sleep Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks independently, it may be a sign of underlying issues such as reflux, colic, or other discomforts. Consulting with a pediatrician can help identify and address these issues, making it easier for your baby to sleep comfortably.

The Impact of Contact Naps on Parents

Contact naps can have a significant impact Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks on parents, both positively and negatively. While they provide an opportunity for bonding and closeness, they can also be physically and emotionally demanding.

Positive Impacts

1. Bonding: Contact naps provide a unique opportunity for parents to bond with their babies, fostering a deep emotional connection.
2. Relaxation: The physical closeness and rhythmic breathing of your baby can have a calming effect on parents, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
3. Confidence: Successfully soothing your baby to sleep can boost your confidence as a parent, reinforcing your ability to meet your baby’s needs.

Negative Impacts

1. Physical Demands: Holding a baby for extended periods can be physically demanding, leading to discomfort and fatigue.
2. Emotional Demands: The constant need to be available for your baby can be emotionally taxing, leading to feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion.
3. Limited Freedom: Contact naps can limit Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks your ability to engage in other activities, leading to feelings of isolation and frustration.

Balancing Contact Naps with Independent Sleep

Finding a balance between contact naps and independent sleep can help ensure that your baby gets the rest they need while also promoting their ability to sleep independently. Here are some strategies to achieve this balance:

1. Mix and Match: Alternate between contact Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks naps and independent sleep sessions to help your baby become comfortable with both.
2. Gradual Reduction: Gradually reduce the frequency of contact naps as your baby becomes more comfortable with independent sleeping.
3. Flexibility: Be flexible and adapt your approach based on your baby’s needs and your own well-being. Some days may require more contact naps, while others may allow for more independent sleep.

Conclusion

Do contact naps before 12 weeks The answer is generally Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks no. Contact naps can be a valuable tool for ensuring your baby gets appropriate daytime sleep and isn’t overtired. However, if your baby becomes entirely reliant on contact napping and is unable to sleep independently, it may indicate that other needs are not being fully addressed, especially as they approach the 12-week mark.

Read More: Do Contact Naps Before 12 Weeks

Thank you for taking the time to read today’s post about getting your baby to sleep longer at night. Getting your baby to sleep can definitely be a process with varying challenges. If you have any questions about getting your baby to sleep, or your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby (we LOVE them) and sleep and would love to help!

FAQs

1. What is contact napping?

Contact napping is when a baby or toddler sleeps with their little body on top of—or squished against—a parent. This practice is different from co-sleeping, which can occur without any actual body-to-body contact. Unlike co-sleeping, with contact napping, the parent can (and should!) be awake.

2. Is contact napping safe?

Contact napping is only safe if your baby is the only one sleeping! The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that it’s “imperative that the mother/caregiver who is providing skin-to-skin care be awake and alert.” That’s because when you accidentally nod off while contact napping, you lose two key elements of safety: Your attention and your conscious grip of your little one, which puts your baby at risk for dangerous falls and maneuvering to an unsafe position.

3. What are the benefits of contact napping for babies?

The benefits of contact napping for babies include quieting cries, regulating heart rate and breathing, aiding weight gain, regulating body temperature, improving breastfeeding success, improving chances of an earlier hospital discharge, and boosting bonding.

4. What are the benefits of contact napping for parents?

The benefits of contact napping for parents include lowering blood pressure, lowering heart rate, reducing cortisol levels, reducing feelings of depression and anxiety, increasing oxytocin levels, and increasing relaxation.

5. Can babies become reliant on contact naps?

Yes, babies can become reliant on contact naps. To help avoid sleep problems later, you need to focus on sleep cues and routines now that will teach your baby to self-soothe. This can involve using the wake-and-sleep technique, adding other soothing sensations to the mix, and considering tools like the SNOO smart bassinet.