{"id":"be73edbf010f940e998f68fcac461540","slug":"10monthold-nap-perfectly-hold-him-but-wakes-up-within","question":"Why does my 10-month-old nap perfectly when I hold him but wakes up within five minutes of being put down?","answer":"Your 10-month-old is likely waking because the shift from being held to lying flat triggers a startle reflex — a sudden jolt that interrupts their sleep. The transition itself (temperature drop, loss of contact, change in position) can pull them awake even if they were deeply asleep in your arms.\n\nBeing held is also inherently soothing in ways a crib isn't. Your warmth and presence signal safety, which deepens their sleep. When that input suddenly stops, they wake.\n\nThis is developmentally normal and temporary. What often helps is warming the sleep surface before you put your baby down, keeping your hands on them for a minute or two after laying them down, or trying the transfer when they're in deeper sleep — often 15–20 minutes after falling asleep. Some parents find contact naps work well too, knowing that the memory consolidation happening during those naps supports your baby's learning regardless of where the sleep happens.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"nap-schedules","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-10-29T23:01:29.493Z"}