Weaning from wearing down to sleep

As I mentioned in a previous post, my secret weapon of "nursing" has always been wearing DS down to sleep (nap) in a sling. Because DS has a very intense character, catnapping and sleep deprivation is always my concern. But swinging him with the sling can wind him down and make his wild body calm, and swaddling him in that sling while laying it in the bed with him (when he's about to fall asleep) provides the sense of security which in turn ensures that his catnaps are replaced by more restorative one-hour, seventy-five- or even ninety-minutes naps.

In recent weeks, some important things have happened. Because DS has begun to feel the semi-upright position that I have been putting him into the sling too confining (it is not easy to wear him down if he is being carried in other positions, such as the snuggle hold, because the change of body positions is considerable which easily wakes him up), I feel that perhaps it's time to wean him (at least partially) from the sling when nap time comes.

So after bringing him to the bedroom, singing "ABCD" or "twinkle twinkle little star", reading a book or two to him, and reminding him that it's time to sleep (the intervals between his windows of falling asleep, after first waking up in the morning, are about 3, 3.5 and 5 hours respectively), I put him directly into the sling in a cradle hold position (with his legs leaned out, so the sling essentially just becomes a wrap around his waist), then immediately lay him down awake, but stay with him.

While staying with him, I keep on singing the lullaby "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (or just humming the melody), and gently pat his legs, arms and/or shoulders (to relax the muscles which are still tense and wiggling). Usually he will lie quietly on the bed, but still resists to close his eyes. I then massage his forehead using my thumb and index finger, and even gently cover his eyes with my palm so that he is not distracted by the pictures on the wall. He will go to sleep in no more than 10 minutes, and unless being bothered by teething or other physical problems, he can usually stay asleep for the entire nap (without my presence) until he feels "enough" ( he will stand up immediately after waken up)!

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

If you think that the above sounds interesting, don't forget that I have practiced laying him down for 14 months continuously- and only until recent months he does not scream when his body touches the bed (while he is awake)! The lesson I have learned is that for a high need spirited baby like DS, learning to sleep independently can only be a very gradual and supported process, but eventually s/he will attain it when the time has come.

I am now just hoping that I can transfer this learning to nights.

Related article: no cry nap solution for an intense baby