View Your Wish List

Search

View Your Wish List

Menu

Sleeping

Contact Naps: The Benefits & Drawbacks

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

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. 

What is a contact nap?

A contact nap is when a baby falls asleep and stays asleep while being held. Instead of being placed in a crib or bassinet, the baby stays in their caregiver's arms for the entire nap. 

Contact naps are especially common during the newborn days and the postpartum period (also known as the "fourth trimester") when newborns still seek the close physical contact they experienced in the womb.  

What are the benefits of contact napping? 

  • 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. 

What are the drawbacks of contact napping?

  • Dependence and challenges with transitioning: Babies can become accustomed to falling asleep and staying asleep only while being held. This can make the shift to independent napping more difficult. 
  • Limited personal freedom: Holding your baby for long naps can make it hard to get things done or enjoy some personal downtime.  
  • Physical discomfort: While holding your baby for a nap might feel cozy at first, it can result in sore arms and discomfort over time. 
  • Challenges for other caregivers: If your baby is used to contact naps with you, it may be difficult for other family members to settle them for naps without holding them. 
  • Struggles with self-soothing: Relying on contact for sleep can limit your baby’s chances to develop self-soothing skills, which are essential for learning to sleep independently. 
  • Sleep associations: Constant contact napping without gradually encouraging independent sleep may make it harder for your baby to fall asleep without physical contact. 

Tips for safe contact napping

While contact napping can be beneficial, it's important to do it safely and be aware of the risks associated with falling asleep while holding your baby. 

Even if your goal is for your baby to nap while you're awake, there's always the risk of unintentionally falling asleep in an unsafe position (e.g., on a couch or armchair) while holding your baby. This increases the risk of SIDS or suffocation.  

Safe sleep guidelines strongly recommend against sleeping on a sofa or armchair with your baby. 

Explore the Range

Sleep

When to stop contact naps?

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: 

  1. Create a consistent sleep routine: Establish a calm, predictable pre-nap routine to signal it’s time for sleep. 
  2. Reduce contact gradually: Instead of stopping abruptly, slowly decrease the amount of physical contact during naps. You can start by holding your baby for shorter periods or placing them in their crib when they're drowsy but not fully asleep. 
  3. Shorten naps at first: In the beginning, making naps shorter can help prevent your baby from getting overtired and frustrated as they adjust to less contact. 
  4. Provide reassurance: If your baby cries or becomes unsettled, offer comfort by gently patting or shushing from a distance instead of picking them up right away. 
  5. Be patient and flexible: This transition can take time, and some days will be harder than others – that’s okay. Be patient with both your baby and yourself as you adjust to the change. 

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: 

  • 4 to 6 months: At this stage, many babies begin to establish more predictable sleep routines and can start self-soothing or falling asleep on their own. While some may still seek the comfort of being held for naps, others may begin to nap independently in a crib or bassinet with less need for physical contact. 
  • 6 to 9 months: By now, many babies can stay awake for longer periods and may no longer need the constant comfort of being held to fall asleep. You might notice your baby becoming more willing to nap independently in their crib, although contact naps can still provide comfort during transitions or growth spurts. 
  • 9 to 12 months: At this point, babies usually have a more regular sleep schedule and are less likely to rely on contact naps. They may still seek cuddles or physical closeness before naps but can often nap independently for longer periods. 
  • 12 months and beyond: By their first birthday, most babies can nap independently in their crib. They’ve usually developed self-soothing skills and no longer need contact naps, though they may still enjoy being held for comfort if they’re feeling upset or unwell. 

Related Articles

Sleeping5m

Dressing Your Baby for Bed: Tips for Choosing the Right Sleepwear

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.

Sleeping2m

Newborn Baby Sleep: A Guide for Parents

As a new parent, you may find yourself dreaming of a silent night more than ever...

Sleeping4m

Soothing Your Baby to Sleep

We're here to give you some handy tips for baby sleep so you understand your baby's needs, and to help them and you sleep a little better.

Sources