Sleepy Snuggles: How Our Community Uses Baby Carrier Contact Naps for Rest
Baby Carrier Contact Naps On the Go
Babywearing is the busy family’s best friend for many reasons. (Napping on the go is one of them!) When your baby gets used to a comfy carrier snooze, it’s so easy to keep plans with your friends or show up to your toddler’s playdate. Our community members love babywearing in their Lark Baby Carrier or ring sling for on-the-go naps!
Alexandra Cassidy - Lark: We use our lark for all naps when out and about! No worries about skipping a nap, he’ll just sleep in the lark it’s so nice knowing we don’t have to sacrifice naps to be able to be out!❤️
Kelsey Remme - Lark: We love contact naps when we’re out and about in the afternoon! Babywearing helps prevent an overtired baby for us ❤️
Kaitlin Wagner - Lark, ring sling: My daughter and I walk to and from work everyday (I work at the daycare she goes to), and whether I use the lark or a ring sling she gets her 10 min mini nap before and after school. I wore her at the zoo for mothers day too and she was able to nap in her sling after we walked around a bit. I have also been successful in a nap transfer from car seat to carrier so she was able to nap the whole time we were at the store.
Hands-Free Contact Naps
Even if you stay home for naptime, babywearing still makes it easier for your baby to contact nap. You’re not nap trapped on the couch anymore! Like our community members, you can do some chores or take a walk. Or simply wait out nap time more comfortably in you ring sling, Lark, or stretchy baby wrap.
Shannon Fleming - Ring sling, Lark, meh dai: I work from home and babywearing while contact napping has been a life saver! Ring sling, lark, and meh dai!
Tiesha Blizzard - Ring sling: We don’t nap in the carrier on the daily but it definitely helps when out and about or when she’s extra fussy something about the ring sling just helps knock her out plus makes my life easier since now I can be hands free while she naps since we contact nap all naps at the moment.
Sasha Quinn - Ring sling, baby wrap, Lark: Our baby sleeps beautifully in her bed at night. Day time? Carrier or wrap nap ONLY. If she's not wrapped up it's 20 mins max. In a sling/wrap/lark we can get 2+ hours.
Kynzie Rogakis - Lark: All 4 of my babies have contact napped in carriers. Especially as we’ve had more kids, babywearing is the only way we function most days!
Adding in Babywearing to Your Sleep Routine
Some of our community members like to incorporate babywearing into the nap or bedtime routines. Their baby might not stay in the carrier to sleep, but this doesn’t mean they don’t snuggle down while cuddled close, getting themselves ready for a nice, long snooze. Looking at you sleepy toddlers in Kid Larks, meh dais, and ring slings!
Cadence Moore - Ring sling: My 18 mo son loves our ring sling🩵 usually we start off his daily nap in the sling and then I transition him to his bed and he cuddles with it for comfort!
Mikhaila Rowaan - Kid Lark: We use our kid lark daily to put my 3 year old to sleep! Helps her calm down and feel close and connected before bed. It's one of my favourite parts of the day!
Jennifer Fowler - Lark: We love our Lark naps. It's the only way we get our 11AM naps in so we don't spend the entire afternoon being overtired.
We usually start by petting the kitties while getting loaded in. We then do a quick walk around the garden before embarking on our neighborhood walk! 20 minutes into our 60 minute walk, we fall asleep. End up with a lovely 40 minute nap and one happy baby 🥰
Wish the rain would hurry up and go away as someone has been FUSSY without her outdoor Lark naps 🫠 I know I could pace around the house but it's just not the same. She loves hearing the birds and feeling the breeze. And let's be real, you go stir crazy being trapped inside for too long.
Jozie O'Brien - Lark: When we night weaned we added Babywearing to our bedtime routine! Our routine is nurse, brush teeth, read books, and into the carrier on mom or dads back until he’s asleep, then we transfer him to his bed.
At 20 months he doesn’t nap in the carrier as often, but I treasure the times he does ❤️
I don’t have a recent carrier nap photo, but here’s one from right before his 1st birthday ❤️
Jordan Engel - Meh dai, ring sling: My babe falls asleep in a back carry now that she’s closer to 18mo, and we’ve recently incorporated a morning carry around the neighborhood for some sunlight, and a bedtime walk as well- I’ve only recently started using a meh dai and sling but she’s actually falling asleep in those more easily than my structured carriers because they’re a tight secure fit!
Katie Myers - Lark: We use our Lark for our last cat nap every evening! If we don’t go for our nightly walk, it’s a rough night with an overtired baby and a lot of fussing. Into the Lark and she’s out within 5 minutes. Plus, the dogs get their walk and I get some exercise!
Soothing Overtired Babies with Baby Carrier Contact Naps
As caregivers, we’ve all been there: Your baby hasn’t slept. They're overtired and starting to lose it. You’re starting to lose it. How do you convince a sleepy baby that all they need to do is close their eyes? Our community members turn to babywearing in their times of need, proving time and time again that the power of snuggles for sleep is strong.
Jessica Carrillo Cruz - Ring sling, meh dai: If my little is overtired, the deep pressure from a sling or meh dai carry will 9 outta 10 get her to sleep. 💕
Shelby Rae - Ring sling: My daughter was substance exposed prenatally and NEVER stops moving. The only way I can get her to nap is in a ring sling, it has saved our sanity
Marta Rose - Lark, ring sling: My one year old doesn't nap in carriers anymore. However, our lark and ring sling are crucial tools after sleepless nights. When we're both exhausted, babywearing in our hope&plum carriers keep both of us comforted and regulated.
Jenny Tafur-Ruth: Babywearing saved my soul. 🙃
When I went back to work, the postpartum anxiety hit hard. People always worry about moms with newborns but it wasnt until months later that it really hit for me. But every day I'd pick my daughter up from daycare and wear her. I'd be dripping in anxiety from the separation and she'd be overwhelmed from the new routine. We were both disregulated messes. But wearing her after work, it was the closest thing to "putting her back" as I could get. Within minutes of wearing her we'd come back to that mental equilibrium we had in the womb and during maternity leave.
Fast forward to every time we struggled to regulate- babywearing got us thru every sleep regression, traveling three time zones away, moving to a new house, getting thru the loss of a family member, weaning ... every time we were disregulated, babywearing brought us the comfort we BOTH needed to regulate.
Tori Brown: Babywearing walks are our secret weapon when bub is exhausted and fussy but bedtime is still an hour away. Literally stops all fussy behavior and keeps our dude calm and content instead of us trying to play and overstimulating him further.
Raven Garcia - Ring sling: We love a ring sling nap! On the go or at home, we sling nap at least once a day. The deep pressure of the sling does wonders for my baby.
Emma Burrows - Ring sling, meh dai: My little one naps in our h&p carriers all the time. Lately when she’s struggling to fall asleep we pop on a ring sling and after a bit of bouncing on the trusty yoga ball, she’s sound asleep. My favorite are meh dai snuggle naps though—the best!
Baby Carrier Contact Naps FAQ
What is a contact nap?
A contact nap is when a baby takes a nap while resting against their caregiver's body. Babies and toddlers, but especially infants, love contact naps because they prefer being close to their caregivers and the close contact helps young babies regulate their breathing and temperature.
Can you use a baby carrier for contact naps?
Absolutely! In fact, we recommend babywearing for contact naps, especially when you're on the go or trying to do other household tasks.
Is it normal for babies to take all their naps in a carrier?
It's normal, especially for newborns who are most comfortable in a womb-like snuggle. As long as you have a safe and comfortable fit, it's not a problem for your baby to only nap in baby carriers. If you're feeling overwhelmed or touched out or you want to work towards your baby napping in their own space, you can always take a break or gradually change your sleep routines.
What if my baby refuses to nap in a baby carrier?
If your baby sleeps soundly in their own space, don't force baby carrier contact naps at home. It can be a good idea to get baby used to napping in a carrier sometimes though so they can nap on the go. Take some of the successful parts of your regular sleep routine and add them into babywearing: rock back and forth, read a book, sing a lullaby. If baby still refuses carrier naps, it's worth getting a fit check to make sure you're both comfortable.
Which carriers are best for contact naps?
All hope&plum carriers are great for contact naps, depending on your baby's age and how long they nap. Our top recommendations are our buckle carriers: the Sprout Newborn Carrier for infants, Lark Baby Carrier for babies and young toddlers, and the Lark Kid Carrier for those older toddler and little kid cozy contact naps. These carriers are easy to put on if your child is cranky and overtired, offer simple sleep transfers, and provide you with dual-shoulder support for those long naps.
Can my baby sleep overnight in a carrier?
We don't recommend sleeping overnight in a carrier. Caregivers should never sleep while wearing their baby, and caregivers need sleep too! If your baby only sleeps in the carrier and you have another caregiver to share responsibility, take turns at night and make sure you stay awake. Gently and gradually adjust your sleep routine so you can get baby comfortable sleeping overnight outside the carrier.
How do I move a sleeping baby from the carrier to their crib or bed?
Loosen or unbuckle your carrier, supporting baby with one hand at all times. If your carrier allows it, hold your baby close to your torso while you let the carrier fall off their body. Add in some shushing and rocking and gently move baby to their own sleeping surface, hugging them close to you for as long as possible. You may need to add some gentle pressure and keep shushing as you get them settled.
When should my child stop napping in our carrier?
Your baby can nap in your carrier as long as you both are comfortable and happy. Listen to your body and your own preferences. If your toddler is getting too heavy or their naps are too long for you to stay comfortable, gently and gradually introduce a new nap routine you both will like.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.