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For many new parents, contact naps are a familiar and treasured experience.
Beyond the cozy snuggles, the gentle rise and fall of your baby's chest against yours, and the warmth of their body cuddled close, are there real benefits to letting your baby nap in your arms? And what about the possible downsides?
This blog takes a look at the pros and cons of contact naps to help you decide if this popular parenting practice is the right for you and your baby.
Stronger bonding and less stress: Research shows that physical closeness, like during contact naps, encourages the release of oxytocin (the love hormone), which helps strengthen the bond between parent and baby while reducing stress. This physical connection also lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) in both the baby and caregiver, leading to more relaxed, and possibly higher-quality, sleep over time.
Sense of comfort and security: Contact napping supports the development of a secure attachment by providing consistent closeness and immediate responsiveness to your baby’s needs.
Soothing the startle reflex: Holding your baby close can help calm the Moro reflex (startle reflex), which often wakes them up unexpectedly as they begin to fall asleep.
Immediate comfort and reassurance: When held for naps, babies get their needs met instantly, which can reduce crying and fussiness. This helps them relax and drift off to sleep more easily before they get overtired and harder to settle.
Minimized disruptions: Being held during naps protects the baby from external noises or disturbances that could interrupt their sleep.
Long-term benefits for sleep quality: Early contact naps help babies associate sleep with comfort and the presence of their caregiver. Though their sleep location will eventually shift, these positive sleep associations can lay the groundwork for better sleep patterns as they grow.
Explore the Range
There's no specific age to stop contact naps – it depends on your baby and your family's needs. Many parents start transitioning away from contact naps around 6 to 9 months when babies are more likely to sleep independently in their crib.
However, if contact naps are still working well and your baby is settling comfortably, there's no need to rush. Gradually, as your baby gets older and more capable of self-soothing, you can start encouraging independent naps by placing them in their crib drowsy but awake. Just go at your baby’s pace and follow their cues.
Stopping contact naps is usually a gradual process, helping your baby move from needing you to fall asleep to napping independently.
Every baby is different. Some will transition to independent napping more easily than others, regardless of their previous napping habits.
Here are five tips to help make the transition smoother for both you and your baby:
The key is consistency and allowing your baby time to get used to this new sleep routine. It might take a little while, but with patience, they'll eventually adapt.
Babies generally outgrow contact naps as they develop better self-soothing skills and more consistent sleep patterns. Here's a general timeline for when babies typically move away from contact naps: