4.5 months.... won't nap!!!

[paz479]

My baby is 4.5 months old. I'm a first time mum and got into the bad habit of rocking her and letting her sleep in my arms when she was a baby. I never really thought about teaching her to self settle untill about 3 weeks ago when I couldn't get much done. I kept thinking she'd grow out of it. She's been sleeping well at night usually 11-12 hours straight sometimes 1 night wake up. Usually about 6.30-6/6.30. Her morning nap is always 1.75 hours after for 40 minutes. Other then that the rest of the day is a constant battle. As soon as I put her down she's wide awake. Iv tried to just leave her and she either screams or thinks it's play time and then we've missed the nap opportunity. We usually get one more nap for about 40 minutes. I have tried pick up put down pick up put down, and also tried taking her on a walk, and shh and patting her. Any suggestions? Or is it bad if she only gets about 2 hours in the day? Should I just let her nap in my arms? Sorry for the long post I feel like I'm going out my mind ..... been googling for days

She's still really little and too young for sleep training. You're being too hard on yourself. Some babies need help getting to sleep and others don't. I would absolutely hold her in my arms in that's what she needed. I found the sling great with my second and third. My first started self settling in her cot at 5mo, my second was 7mo and not a moment before. My third is 9mo and is still willfully refusing.

Did you have to sleep train them or did they naturally just grow out of it and start settling in their own time??