Parent Library

Sleeping

All Article Topics

The Pros & Cons of Contact Napping

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. 

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?

How to stop contact naps?

When do babies outgrow contact naps?

What is Kangaroo Care?

Sources