Contact naps only at 5 months, going back to work soon
Marek N.
hace 7 meses
My baby is 5 months and will ONLY nap in the carrier or on me. Crib naps last 10 minutes max before she's up screaming. I go back to work in 6 weeks and daycare will obviously not hold her all day. I'm panicking a bit.
How do I teach crib naps in time without it being miserable for both of us? Nights are actually fine, she's down by 7 in her cot, it's just daytime.
Katya C.
hace 7 meses
Daycare is weirdly magic for this, the group nap environment, cots, other babies sleeping, it often clicks for kids who refuse the crib at home. Don't underestimate it. My daughter wouldn't crib nap for me but napped fine at daycare within two weeks.
Zoe
hace 7 meses
Start with ONE crib nap a day, usually the first one of the day is easiest because their sleep pressure is highest. Keep the others as contact naps so she's not overtired. Build from there. You've got 6 weeks, that's actually enough time.
James B.
hace 7 meses
The fact that nights are great in the cot is a really good sign, she CAN sleep there, it's just a daytime habit. I'd replicate your bedtime routine in miniature before naps, same sleep sack, same white noise, dark room. Consistency cued mine in.
Yuki
hace 7 meses
Honestly, breathe. Daycare workers do this for a living and have seen it all. Tell them she's a contact napper and they'll have strategies. Mine adjusted faster at daycare than I ever expected. The home transition stressed me way more than it needed to.
Liam U.
hace 7 meses
Update for anyone reading: OP-style situation here last year. Did one crib nap a day for two weeks before daycare, it was rough, then daycare took over and she was a champion napper there within 10 days. Weekends she still wanted contact naps and that was fine.