NCS says no contact naps. Is she too strict?

[Anonymous]

Have not read all the replies but contact napped with both my kids for at least some of their naps until we sleep trained at 6 months and it was not an issue at all. Both have been amazing independent sleepers since. Hold your baby as much as you want, please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you're only supposed to hold the baby when they are awake?? Hard no from me.

Agree, this makes no sense. I will say, you should not fall asleep while having your baby nap on you – though I did that but only if my husband was sitting next to us and totally awake and so could make sure the baby stayed in a safe position.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like NCS is on her way to stressing you and the baby out tremendously. Hold your baby. That's how you bond with them. They need it and you need it.

[Anonymous]

Where did this “expert” get her training, TikTok?

[Anonymous]

Exactly, "NCS" is a made up title.

[Anonymous]

This is the nursing equivalent of "Nobody gets fired for buying IBM". It's ultra-safe, but it's also the equivalent of having your child wear a padded suit and helmet the rest of her life.

Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many children does she have? How well adjusted are they?

Babies need to be held. The majority of the world co-sleeps.

“Sleep training” is an abomination that essentially ignores the child’s needs until it gives up.

+ 1,000 - Only drunk or drugged up people should not hold babies.

Please ignore that bad advice, OP. Maybe she’s just following her instructor’s advice. Hold your babies, people.

[Anonymous]

Holding a sleeping newborn is one of the life's greatest joys. Tell the NCS to pound sand and enjoy your baby.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. My very, very favorite memories from my second child were the afternoon naps where I nursed her, then had her fall asleep on my chest while I lay on the bed. I did this to induce her to sleep while my 2.5 year old was also taking his afternoon nap. The house was so silent and peaceful for the period of time where this worked. Did I get anything done? No, but it was so unbelievably pleasant anyway.

Daughter is 2 and naps and sleeps without any intervention from me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a newborn care specialist for our newborn and she told us not to do any contact naps. She’s very strict about all naps (daytime too) being in the bassinet or a safe sleep space.

She says it’s a safety issue and will also make sleep training harder.

It kind of breaks my heart. Obviously we can do what we want but she has great reviews so I figured she knows what she’s doing.

Hot take but i think she's just lazy. You should tell her to do contact naps with your baby. Or just fire her and get someone who will

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We hired a newborn care specialist for our newborn and she told us not to do any contact naps. She’s very strict about all naps (daytime too) being in the bassinet or a safe sleep space.

She says it’s a safety issue and will also make sleep training harder.

It kind of breaks my heart. Obviously we can do what we want but she has great reviews so I figured she knows what she’s doing.

Hot take but i think she's just lazy. You should tell her to do contact naps with your baby. Or just fire her and get someone who will

This^ she probably feels like if the baby only knows the crib during the day her job will be easier. But here's the thing her job is to tend to the baby and soothe and hold. Babies will eventually sleep in their crib but your job right now isn't to make her job easier. Your job is to hold your baby and get all the cuddles you want. If by the time she leaves baby is a crappy sleeper at night oh well and sleep train when baby is old enough.

[Anonymous]

I would fire this person. Sounds like a made up job with made up rules to justify their 'job'.

[Anonymous]

Not sure how this works since my daughter demanded to be held so I wore her everywhere. We sleep trained at 16 weeks and she’s been a great sleeper since then. My newborn now screams when we put her down - I think for them it is evolutionary to want to feel the warmth of a parent so I’m just follow her cues and contact nap / snuggle until I can safely sleep train at 4-6 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly, "NCS" is a made up title.

Huh? A NCS is not a made up title. Baby nurse actually is and the correct term is a newborn care specialist and there is training / courses to become one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a newborn care specialist for our newborn and she told us not to do any contact naps. She’s very strict about all naps (daytime too) being in the bassinet or a safe sleep space.

She says it’s a safety issue and will also make sleep training harder.

It kind of breaks my heart. Obviously we can do what we want but she has great reviews so I figured she knows what she’s doing.

1. I disagree that it will make sleep training harder. Day sleep and night sleep develop independently (according to sleep experts and my own anecdotal experience). I did tons of carrier/contact naps with both of my kids, and they were sleeping through the night by 4 or 5 months.

2. You are the mom. You are in charge. She can offer advice, but you do not have to take it.

3. Having hired a couple of nannies, I have found that just because someone else liked a childcare provider doesn’t mean that you will. Families can have different needs and preferences.