How to go from contact naps to crib naps with your newborn

So, you've reached that pivotal moment in your parenting journey where the cozy, cuddly days of contact napping are evolving into the next phase: crib naps. It can feel like a daunting transition, not to mention the mixed emotions you’ll probably feel as well. But fear not, because with a few of my sleep tips and a sprinkle of patience, you'll have everything you need to get your newborn snoozing peacefully in their crib.

There’s nothing wrong with contact naps

If you’ve been contact napping with your newborn and it’s going well- then please don’t feel any pressure to make changes. It’s perfectly normal for your newborn to sleep well in your arms and if you love these moments, then there is no rush to get your newborn napping in the crib.

However, you may decide it’s time for a change if you’re starting to resent all those contact naps, or maybe you have other children that need your time and attention, or maybe you’re starting to feel like your baby will actually sleep better outside of your arms (with some practice of course). If you’re gearing up for the transition from contact naps to crib naps, then read on!

Get the room ready for crib naps

The crib is naturally going to seem less appealing to your newborn when compared to your arms. So we want to do everything we can to make the sleep environment conducive to good sleep. We want to minimize distractions by getting blackout shades that can keep the room very dark during the daytime hours.

We want to send a clear sleep time cue by having a white noise machine ready to go. White noise can not only send a signal that it’s time to sleep, but it also assists your baby in falling asleep quicker and staying asleep longer. Don’t skimp on this one.

Then we want to make sure the room temperature remains in the optimal range of 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. This will also ensure your baby can fall asleep quicker and is more likely to stay asleep because they are comfortable. A lot of newborn parents make the mistake of bundling their baby up too much but when it comes to sleep, it’s better to err on the side of too cool rather than too warm.

Just start with 1 crib nap a day

Don’t feel like you need to make every single nap be in the crib right from the get go. Take the pressure off yourself! Start small by focusing on one try a day at first. As your baby gets better, then you can gradually add more crib naps in. But remember, this isn’t a race. Slow and steady is the way to go. 

The morning nap usually is the easiest to start with because babies are sleepier in the mornings so they’ll accept change easier. They may give you less push back about sleeping in their crib than they would if you started with an afternoon nap for example.

Ensure that you follow an age appropriate wake window for their nap time so that you aren’t starting with an overtired baby. Overtired babies usually have a harder time falling asleep so we want to avoid that whenever possible. For a newborn, depending on how many weeks old they are, you’re looking at a wake window of around 45-75 minutes. For more info on newborn sleep needs, check out my Free Newborn Sleep Guide here. 

Aim for calm but awake when putting into crib

I know you’re going to be tempted to get your newborn partially or fully asleep before you transfer them to the crib, but that’s not actually what I would recommend. This can increase the likelihood that your newborn will wake as you’re transferring or shortly after and it can be a really jarring experience for your newborn to go from being asleep in mom’s arms to alone in a crib. Even laying your baby down when they’re “drowsy” can hinder their ability to take great crib naps.

Instead, try getting into the routine of placing your baby in their crib while they’re calm yet fully awake. This helps keep them from being jolted awake in a new place. It also allows them to be fully aware that they are falling asleep outside of your arms. We want them to know what we’re teaching them and learn to be confident that they can do it. No “tricking” necessary. 

Stay relaxed if your baby cries in the crib

If your baby cries after you lay them down, work on soothing them while they’re still inside the crib. You can offer shushing and patting, rub their head, place some light pressure on their chest and even rocking them back and forth in the crib. If the crying increases, it’s always okay to pick them up. From there, try to fully soothe them in your arms, and then place them back down and try again.

Offering soothing may help pretty quickly, or you may try for a couple rounds and decide it’s not going to happen this morning. That’s okay. The practice and exposure still counts for something and tomorrow will be a new day,

As we wrap up, please remember, it’s very normal for your baby not to take to this immediately. It’s hard work to move from contact naps to crib naps. It takes a lot of patience and consistency to get them comfortable with their new sleep environment.

Day one won’t be perfect and that’s OKAY. Keep practicing every single day and celebrate the little wins. Even getting your baby to take a 10 minute crib nap is a win!

You got this mama! And as always, I’m here for 1:1 consultations if you need additional help!