HELP transitioning to crib naps
My baby is eight months old (today actually) and has pretty much exclusively contact napped his whole life, apart from a few car seat or stroller naps here and there. I stay home with him so it really hasn’t been a problem. I love the time with him to relax and cuddle but it’s getting to a point where I need a little time during the day to myself or do get things done around the house. He doesn’t play independently as well as he used to so finding time to do simple things is very difficult.
For the past week, I’ve been trying to do a nap in the crib for his first nap of the day. I rock him to sleep (I do this at bedtime too, it’s what he’s used to) and he transfers great! However, he consistently sleeps 20-25 minutes and then wakes up. He’s not upset, but he’s WIDE awake. Like immediately playing and talking in his crib. I am able to “rescue” the nap and finish it as a contact nap. This nap usually totals 1.5-2hours.
What can I do to help him sleep longer? He sleeps like a dream at night in his crib and can resettle himself 9/10 but during the day he doesn’t even try. Please help!! Any advice is welcome but I am 100% against any methods that include leaving him to cry. No judgement to those who do, just not for me.