By Dawn Oliver, Certified Postpartum Doula & Infant Sleep Consultant
Founder of Compassionate Care Doula Services & Birth and Beyond Nesting™
💭 What Is Contact Napping?
Contact napping means your baby falls asleep while being held or resting on your chest, in your arms, or against your body. It’s incredibly common in the fourth trimester—and often biologically normal.
It’s also one of the most emotionally loaded parenting topics.
We’re here to clear things up with facts, not fear.
🌟 The Pros of Contact Napping
Many families find that contact naps come with beautiful benefits:
🤱 Promotes bonding through skin-to-skin and closeness 🧠 Regulates baby’s nervous system via your warmth, heartbeat, and breath 😴 Improves sleep duration and quality in the newborn phase 💛 Reduces postpartum anxiety with calming oxytocin release 🌱 Supports healthy emotional development by building a foundation of trust
🌥️ The Cons of Contact Napping
While there’s nothing wrong with contact napping, it can create challenges for some caregivers, such as:
⏳ Time-consuming – You may feel glued to the couch for hours 🚼 Hard to transfer – Baby wakes as soon as you try to lay them down 🛒 Limits flexibility – Tough to complete tasks or care for other kids 😓 Can create sleep associations – Baby might expect contact for every nap 💤 May delay independent sleep skills if continued beyond baby’s readiness
💡 It’s Okay to Put the Baby Down
We want to say this clearly:
You are not failing if contact napping feels hard.
And—you’re not failing if you’re ready for more independence.
It’s okay to want a nap without holding your baby the entire time. It’s okay to put your baby down gently and allow them space to learn how to fall asleep independently.
Babies are capable of growing into this skill—with support, time, and love.
🌙 When You’re Ready, We’re Here
At Compassionate Care Doula Services, we support families with baby sleep through our gentle and personalized Birth and Beyond Nesting™ approach.
Whether you’re embracing contact naps or hoping to make a smooth transition, we’ll meet you where you are—with empathy and evidence-based support.
👶 Newborn sleep consultations available now
💻 Virtual support + local overnight care
💬 Let’s talk about what works best for you
💬 Final Thought
There’s no one “right” way to help your baby sleep—only what’s right for your family.
If you need support transitioning away from contact naps—or just want reassurance that what you’re doing is normal—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
You’re doing an amazing job.
💤 Ready to learn more?
✨ Ask about our sleep consulting services through
Birth and Beyond Nesting™ today.
Compassionate Care Doula Services, LLC 
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