View Your Wish List

Search

View Your Wish List
Basket
You have no items in your basket, add items from the shop or your wishlist.
Basket
You have no items in your basket, add items from the shop or your wishlist.

Menu

Sleeping

The Pros & Cons of Contact Napping

Article By
Anna
Published On
07 Apr, 2025
Read Time
6 minutes

The gentle rise and fall of your baby's chest against yours, the warmth of their little body snuggled close – for many new parents, contact naps are a familiar and often cherished experience.  

But beyond the cosy cuddles, are there genuine benefits to letting your baby snooze in your arms? And what about the potential drawbacks? This blog explores the pros and cons of contact naps to help you decide if this popular practice is the right fit for you and your baby. 

What is a contact nap?

A contact nap is when a baby falls asleep and continues to sleep while being held by a caregiver like a parent or grandparent. Instead of being transferred to a cot or Moses basket, the baby remains in their caregiver's arms for the whole nap. 

Contact naps are particularly common in the newborn and early infant stages. During the postpartum period – also known as the fourth trimester – newborn babies still crave the close physical contact they were used to in the womb. Contact naps can help fulfil this need. 

It's important for parents to weigh these potential cons against the benefits and consider their own circumstances, their baby's temperament, and their long-term sleep goals when deciding whether and how often to offer contact naps. 

The benefits of contact naps 

  • Enhanced bonding and reduced stress: Studies on the release of hormones like oxytocin ("the love hormone") during physical contact between parents and babies support the idea that close contact helps bonding and reduces stress. Physical closeness, like in contact napping, has also been shown to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in both babies and caregivers. Lower stress levels can contribute to more relaxed and potentially better-quality sleep in the long run. 
  • Comfort and closeness: Contact napping can help to foster secure attachment between parent and baby through physical closeness and responsiveness. 
  • Reduced startle reflex: Being held snugly can provide a sense of security and help suppress a baby’s involuntary Moro (startle) reflex, which can often jolt them awake just as they are drifting off.  
  • Meeting needs immediately: When a baby is held for a nap, their needs (comfort, warmth, reassurance) are met immediately, meaning less fussiness or crying. Contact naps can help make it easier for a baby to relax and fall asleep before becoming overly tired and harder to settle. 
  • Reduced distractions: Being held means the baby is shielded from noises that could wake them or disturb their sleep.  
  • Potential for better sleep quality (long-term): In the early months, contact naps can create positive associations with sleep – warmth, comfort, and the presence of a caregiver. While the location of sleep will eventually need to transition, the positive feeling around sleep can be beneficial long-term. 

The cons of contact napping  

  • Dependence and transition challenges: Babies can become very accustomed to falling asleep and staying asleep only when in close physical contact. This can make the eventual transition to independent napping a lot more difficult. 
  • Limited freedom: Holding your sleeping baby for extended periods can make it tricky to get things done or simply have some personal downtime. This can lead to feelings of being "trapped" or overwhelmed. 
  • Potential for discomfort: While comfortable at first, holding a baby for a long nap can make your arms ache.  
  • Difficulty for other caregivers: If your baby is mainly used to contact naps with you, it might be challenging for other family members to get them to nap without being held. 
  • Can hinder self-soothing: By always being soothed to sleep through contact, your baby may have fewer opportunities to develop self-soothing skills, which are important for learning how to sleep independently.  
  • Sleep associations: Exclusive contact napping without gradually introducing independent sleep opportunities could mean that a baby struggles to fall asleep without physical contact. 

Explore the Range

Sleep

Tips for safe contact napping

Always prioritise safe sleep practices. While contact napping can be beneficial, it's crucial to do it safely and be aware of the risks of falling asleep while holding a baby. 

While the intention is for the baby to nap while the caregiver is awake, there's always a risk of them unintentionally falling asleep in an unsafe position (e.g., on a sofa or armchair) while holding the baby.  

This significantly increases the risk of SIDS or suffocation. Safe sleep guidelines strongly advise against sleeping on a sofa or armchair with a baby. 

When to stop contact naps?

The decision of when to stop contact naps is personal, often guided by a baby's developmental cues, parental well-being, and practical considerations. Most parents stop contact naps between 4 and 12 months, with a gradual transition often being the most successful approach while always prioritising safe sleep practices for independent sleep. 

Ultimately, the best time to stop contact naps is when it feels right for both you and your baby. Pay attention to your baby's cues and your own needs and make the transition at a pace that feels comfortable for everyone. 

Stopping contact naps is often a gradual process, as it involves helping your baby transition from needing you to fall asleep to being able to nap independently.  

Every baby is different. Some may naturally transition to independent napping more easily than others, regardless of their early napping habits. 

Here are our top five tips to make the process smoother for you and your baby.  

  1. Establish a consistent sleep routine: Try to create a calm and consistent pre-nap routine that signals it's time for sleep.  
  2. Gradually reduce contact: Instead of going cold turkey, try slowly reducing the amount of physical contact during naps. Start by holding your baby for a shorter time or place them in their cot when they're drowsy but not fully asleep. 
  3. Make naps shorter initially: Sometimes, shortening the duration of the naps while gradually transitioning away from contact can help ease the process, so they don’t become overtired and frustrated. 
  4. Offer reassurance: If your baby cries or seems unsettled, provide reassurance by gently patting or shushing them from a distance rather than picking them up immediately. 
  5. Stay patient and flexible: This process can take time. Some days may be more challenging than others, and that’s okay. Be patient with your baby (and with yourself) as you both adjust to the change. 

The key is consistency and giving your baby time to adjust to the new sleep method. It may take a little while, but with patience, they'll likely get the hang of it.  

Babies typically outgrow contact naps as they grow and develop better self-soothing skills. Here's a general timeline for when babies usually move away from contact naps. 

  • Around 4 to 6 months: By this age, many babies start to develop more predictable sleep patterns and can begin to self-soothe or fall asleep on their own. Some may still need the comfort of being held for naps, but others may start to take naps in a crib or bassinet with less need for contact. 
  • 6 to 9 months: Many babies at this stage are better able to stay awake for longer periods and may not need the constant comfort of being held to fall asleep. You might find that your baby is more willing to nap independently in their cot, though contact naps can still be a comfort for both of you during times of transition and growth spurts. 
  • 9 to 12 months: By this age, babies usually have a more regular sleep schedule and are less likely to require contact naps. They may still want cuddles and physical closeness before naps, but often, they can nap independently for longer stretches. 
  • 12 months and beyond: By their first birthday, most babies can nap independently in their cot. They can usually self-soothe and may not need contact naps anymore, though they might still enjoy being held for comfort during moments of distress or when they are feeling unwell. 

Like contact napping, Kangaroo Care is a practice that involves skin-to-skin contact with newborns and has benefits like improved physiological stability (heart rate, temperature, breathing), reduced crying, and enhanced bonding. Kangaroo care is often skin-to-skin and used in NICU settings. 

Related Articles

Sleeping5m

What Should a Baby Wear to Bed?

We all know that safe sleep is very important for babies, but with so many different clothing options available, it can be difficult to know what your baby should wear to bed.

Sleeping6m

Top 5 Baby Essentials for Sleep

Our essential baby sleep guide to get you one step closer to great sleep for them (and you).

Sleeping7m

Baby Sleep Training: What Is It?

Lots of parents consider introducing sleep training into their little one's nighttime routine, and wonder which sleep training method (if any) is right for them.

Sources