8 week old hates to be napped in our arms

[SarahR1985]

Within the last few weeks our little one has suddenly found it really hard to relax and drift off in our arms when we try to nap her. As soon as we lie her back and sssh, rock, stroke anything sleep related, she cries, goes ridged, red in the face but at the same time seems tired and goes between chomping her dummy to not being able to with crying so much

We try to calm her, give more food, wind and see if she really is tired (which she is) but each time she creates and seems to dislike napping / going to sleep on us. This is difficult when out or indeed at home, as we’ve not begun to nap her in a cot yet….or essentially when we’re not in the car / using the pram.

She sleeps well at night with 1 formula feed and self soothes a little already.

Any help is much appreciated as it’s so hard battling each time she needs a nap and my joints are killing with the pacing and rocking!!!

Thank you

What an utterly baffling post.

Baby won't sleep in my arms, what can I do?

Ummmmmmm have you tried putting baby to sleep NOT in your arms? Eg the more sensible convenient option?

8 weeks is not too young to put in a cot/pram/moses basket to sleep, a day old isn't too young. I am not sure if I am missing the point in the OP?

Baby needs to learn how to sleep alone! Holding them and then transferring them is not a good idea.

@SarahR1985

Thanks for the responses

Sorry if it came across as I was against putting her down or napping in her cot…I did this with my first but not at 8 weeks!

I guess it’s more as “Chr1stmasCarole” says you assume you’re able to as a parent soothe your child to sleep in your arms if needed. I need to get my head around the fact, this is not always the case

I’ll take all the comments on board

My son was like this, but at 10 he has just spent half an hour on my knee having a cuddle.

You can and will soothe your child. Just not for naps. It's really OK

Oh yes, just to reassure you, my ds who was exactly like this and just wanted to be left alone to get to sleep is 9 now. He still needs time alone to sleep but it has in no way translated into a general lack of affection. He's very loving and cuddly at other times.
Babies are just all different

Just put her in her cot to sleep.

My first co slept from birth and frequently came into our bed until much, much, much later. My second wanted to be put down and left in her Moses basket from a couple of weeks. And slept and sleeps like a log happy in her own space.

It's strange when you have your second, because they are so completely different to your first right from the get go.

My youngest used to cry to be put down and left alone to sleep from birth. Whereas my eldest had to be held and rocked to sleep up to 1 yr. They were just very different sleep wise.

Apparently I was like this! I slept well if left alone.

My eldest didn't like to be fussed and if anything it just made her worse. She'd have slept on a washing line, just not in anyone's arms. I would pop her down, she would have a grumble (not crying) and fall asleep.

She was the best sleeper of all three.

My first two slept in my arms from day 1. I co sleep with them. My third one just wanted to sleep on his own since the day he was born. As soon as put on the bed, he sleeps. Doesn’t want to be held.