Settling 4 month old for naps - please help broken woman

[stillhopefulforanother]

I have a 4 month old DD and a 2 year old DS. I used a sling for my baby so I could keep her close when she slept and I could be with my toddler. Also I havnt got time to settle to sleep so that's main reason sling worked.

The baby got heavier and bigger and using the sling for naps isn't working for me anymore. My body is broken and I'm in pain across arms shoulder and back. Also she gets better sleep in her cot.

Please... Was anyone else in this position? How can I get her to nap in her cot? If I try to put her in there she screams and gets REALLY upset properly distressed. I can't bear it so i put the sling on.

Please I'm broken ....literally.

Have you tried pick-up/put-down? That's how I got DS napping in his cot, plus I would ssh-pat him to sleep (he didn't self-settle til about 7 months).

Do you have a good nap routine? I'd first get into a routine of having naps at the same time in the sling every day, and then move to the cot.

She naps at same time each day v predictable. She's taken them in sling for past three weeks (at same time). Like u suggested I tried to get her to take them in cot but she's getting upset.

Think she's to young for pupd. Maybe wait a month til she's five months then try.

Not sure how helpful this is but I went from sling to buggy for naps as DS was used to the motion to help him drift off - cot was a non starter.
Having now weaned him off needing the motion I will retry cot.
He is 6 months.

Ok, probably no help but is there a sling library near you? Perhaps they can help you find one that's less stress in your neck and shoulders as the sling shouldn't be hurting you. 4 months is so little to settle herself but I know what you mean about not being able to get time to settle her with a (not much) older child in tow. For naps now I mostly take DS out in the pushchair or the car (how not at all green of me) and have my dd along with me. It's not a permanent solution but it works ish for now. Though of course I'm on here because I'm posting my own night time problems so maybe I've just made a rod for my own back. Sympathies though xxx

I was the same. DS is 14 weeks and 17lb so the sling is now a no no. When I got him off to sleep in the sling I used to pat his bum and do a rhythmical sssshing. I now put him in the bed nest on his front (he's never slept on his back hence the sling in the first place), and do the same pat and sssh but also rub his back fairly hard so it creates a bit of motion. He goes down crying and the first time I did it I thought it would never work but I persisted thru his cries and sure enough he dropped off after 15 mins
Only sleeps for 30 mins this way used to do 2 hrs in the sling but its a start.
It only works in the am when he's in a good mood the rest of the day I have touse the pram come rain or shine.
Good luck!

I had same problem in that dd only slept in sling.
Screamed in car seat and pram and cot/swing no go too.
This week we seem to have cracked it.
I got a lullaby toy, played it to her every time she was going to sleep. Instead of wandering round house, went thru routine of going into bedroom, closing blinds, putting music on and staying there till she went to sleep (in sling) This could take 30 mins! Then after a week (5 days) I did same but put her in swing. Then sat and shushed her for AGES but it worked. Trick is to not give up, keep at it even when it fails. Didn't work a couple of times but I gave her 40 mins and just tried again next time. An app that shushes for you saved my sanity. I also sat beside her the whole time for first few naps so I could shush her if she woke. Just had a 'packed lunch' & book!

She used to scream blue murder when I put her in pram but this changed this week too. Not sure why but could be my pal took her out, pushed through the crying. Made sure she was fed, changed, comfy. Now she loves the pram!

Same as above poster, she naps shorter now but at least you get some freedom. I pat her back thru theback if the swing too. Just DONT give up...thats best advice I xan give.