Sleeping alone vs. in arms- when?

[Deleted]

Cuddle the baby.

Don't worry about some future that probably won't happen. My kids all transitioned the easiest when I waited "too long" vs. pushing things early. If you LIKE the cuddles, then cuddle the baby.

[BaliHai]

First, congrats on the birth of your son!

I didn't really start putting L down until she was a little over a month old, and the only reason I did it was because H kept insisting, and he was being backed up by my Mom, his Mom, my aunts, pretty much everyone except my sister, so I caved. I would have been happy to hold her for every nap - she's almost 8 months and I'd still love to hold her for her naps, but she's not a snuggler. I have no idea if her preference for being put down and left alone to sleep has to do with me putting her down when I did - I'm guessing no - but I do not take that for granted.

Looking back, though, and thinking of baby #2, I think I'm just going to do what I want. It's very cliche, but they are that tiny and sleepy for no time at all, and since our next baby will more than likely be our last baby, I'd like to enjoy it while it lasts.

[IndiaInk]

i have wondered this a little, but C seems to be just fine. She naps a lot in her Boba carrier while I work, or in lap after nursing. She's only just starting to take naps alone - generally when she seems super tired after nursing and I put her in her swaddle and lay her in the crib. She's taken 2 long naps that way this week. She sleeps alone in her crib at night just fine.
So...I don't know officially, but it seems to be fine for our baby. I think when they're so little they just need/want to be held a lot.

[rex]

L napped in my arms 99% of the time until she was 3 months old. i gradually figured out a way to get her down so the amount she was in my arms had decreased by 3 months, but i honestly thought nothing of it. she sleeps perfectly now!

[simpsongal]

I wish I did more cuddling but DH and were disciplined about puting him down to nap. I missed out on baby snuggles

[xojo1]

If you enjoy the snuggles, then hold the baby. E is 5 months and we still hold her for naps on weekends. She naps better in our arms and we ENJOY it. I don't believe it is doing her any harm and there will be a day soon enough that she doesn't want to be held so much so I am enjoying it while I can.

[SJ]

Oh man we are the opposite. When she falls asleep during the day, I can put her anywhere. Swing, crib, RNP...

But at night she sleeps much better on me, in my arms, or next to me in bed. So that's what I have been doing. She's just over 3 weeks.

[dulcemariamar]

LO started napping in her crib closer to 7 months. Before it was impossible but we didnt try ST until much later. It was important for me that she slept during the day so I did whatever to get her to nap

[dulcemariamar]

Enjoy the cuddles... I almost never get them anymore

[booboo173]

Now my DS is not the best sleeper at almost 6 months but I held him a ton on maternity leave and even now some on weekends. I have no regrets. I love smuggling with him and know it won't last forever so do it while I can

[AlpineSlide]

I've held my DS for pretty much 95% of his naps, even now at 8 months old.

First of all, there is no right or wrong way to do it; do what works for you. I too enjoyed it when he was tiny. But to be honest I think I kind of screwed myself by not getting him used to crib naps sooner. I've been having a difficult time getting him to nap in the crib for like 3 months. I'm one of the few people who wishes I put my baby down more when I had the chance (ie. when he was just a little lump that was immobile).

That being said, even being constantly held for naps, we never had too much trouble getting him to sleep by himself at night (PNP or crib). There have been a dozen or so nights (growth spurts/whatever) where I had to hold him all night, but they've been rare.

[Deleted]

DS would only nap on me during the day for maybe 2 months? Then it was hit or miss. He would sleep alone for one nap and then on me for the others.

I was stressed about it at the time but in retrospect it was fine. By 6 or 8 months he stopped sleeping on me completely and I missed it. He never had any issues at daycare.

[bananapancakes]

Enjoy the baby snuggles! It was about 6-7 weeks before L would let me put him down for naps.

[MadamePresident]

I think I stopped cuddling or sleeping with Nods for most naps around 19 months.

[Deleted]

I'm a 100% validator. The knowledge that my ITTY BITTY BABY is about to turn one and we're likely not having more is making me want ALL THE CUDDLES. And instead I'm at work and DH is getting them all.

[spanikopita]

Until 3 or 4 months, I wouldn't bother to worry about this... Or anything "habit" related. Seriously. Do what works.

[thebreakfastclub]

If I wanted to hold DS for a nap, I did, but he was in the PNP or crib for naps 90% of the time as a newborn.

[Jalapeñomel]

Do whatever you need to do to keep him asleep and mom and dad sane.

[ssmjlm]

E napped on one of us until we nap trained at 7.5m. It was time bc her naps were suffering and she couldn't get comfortable.

I miss baby snuggles now.

[Birdie]

Jul 25, 2014 15:23:44 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Cuddle the baby.

Don't worry about some future that probably won't happen. My kids all transitioned the easiest when I waited "too long" vs. pushing things early. If you LIKE the cuddles, then cuddle the baby.

The bolded has been the single most hardest thing I've struggled with. Just do what feels right for now and deal with the future later.