Sleeping

For many new parents, contact naps are a familiar and often cherished part of the parenting journey. The warmth of your baby's tiny body nestled close and the rise and fall of their chest against yours. 

But beyond those cosy cuddles, are there real benefits to letting your baby nap in your arms? And what about the possible downsides?  

We’ve written this blog to discuss the pros and cons of contact naps to help you decide if this popular parenting practice suits you and your baby. 

What are the benefits of contact napping?

• Stronger bonding, less stress: Research shows that physical closeness between parents and their babies – like during contact naps – can trigger the release of hormones such as oxytocin (often called the “love hormone”). This kind of close contact helps strengthen the bond between caregiver and baby, while also easing stress. It’s also been found to lower cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, in both babies and adults. With everyone feeling calmer, it can lead to more restful, better-quality sleep over time. 
• Close comfort: Contact napping can help to foster secure attachment between parent and baby through physical closeness and responsiveness. 
• Reduced startle reflex: Being held can help provide a sense of security and suppress a baby’s involuntary Moro (startle) reflex, which can often jolt them awake just as they are drifting off.   
• Meeting baby’s needs: When a baby is held for a nap they have immediate comfort, warmth, and reassurance. Contact naps can help make it easier for them to relax and fall asleep before they get overtired and become harder to settle. 
• Reduced distractions: If a baby sleeps while being held, they will be shielded from noises that could potentially wake them up.   
• Positive sleep associations: Contact naps with a caregiver provide familiar warmth and comfort, and these cosy, positive feelings built around sleep can potentially last into toddlerhood and childhood. 

What are the negatives of contact napping? 

• Tough to transition later on: Babies can get used to nodding off while being held, and this can make switching to solo naps more difficult. 
• Hard to get anything done: As sweet as it is to hold a sleeping baby, it can be tricky when you’ve got stuff to do (or just want five minutes to yourself).   
• Not always comfy: When you hold a baby, it doesn't take long before your arms, back or neck start feeling the strain. 
• Tough for other carers: If a baby has only ever napped in your arms, it can be a bit rough on partners, grandparents or anyone else trying to help, especially if they refuse to sleep without a familiar cuddle. 
• Less chance to self-settle: When babies are always helped to sleep with cuddles, they’re not able to practice learning how to soothe themselves. 
• Strong sleep associations: If contact naps are the only way your baby falls asleep, they might come to rely on it every single time. Easing in some independent sleep can help create a bit more balance. 

Sources  

• Baby sleep habits: how to phase them out | Raising Children Network 

• Contact Naps: Are Contact Naps Safe? – Happiest Baby Australia 

• Understanding baby sleep | Australian Breastfeeding Association