Cat naps. Need to go back to work soon. HELP

Last week I posted about how I can extend cat naps by rushing to my LO’s room close to the 30 min mark and putting my hand over his chest as soon as I see him move. Well guess what? It stopped working this week! 😭 I would put my hand over his chest but he would open his eyes and give me the biggest grin lol. It’s as if he’s saying “nah uh that ain’t gonna work no more”. I can ride this out if it’s just me but I have to go back to work soon and I’ll be dropping him off at my parents who are both in their 60s. My mom is really good at rocking him to sleep but again, can’t do much if biology dictates for babies to have short naps at this age (3 months). My baby has had some successful “drowsy but awake” naps but not all the time.

To those of you who had to drop off their baby with the grandparents, how do you deal with short naps? Do you instruct them to contact nap? Carrier nap? I genuinely don’t think my mom has the stamina for it, doesn’t help that baby takes 4 naps. How do daycare people do it? I’m genuinely scared.