4 week old takes FOREVER to go down for naps

[hb]

My 4-1/2 week old girl used to go down fine for naps (the challenge has always been nights  ) , but for the last three or so days she is next to impossible to get to sleep.  I just tried to get her to go to sleep for her evening nap, for example, but after an hour + of trying, after struggling with every nap for the last couple of days, I finally gave up and put her in her seat.  She's sitting there now, happy as a clam - but not asleep.

I try to put her down after the first yawn (usually only gives 45 min-1 hour of eat/awake time), but then spend the next hour or two pat/shhhing, singing, or who-knows-what to try to settle her; when she seems settled, it only lasts for 3-10 minutes.  It's making me a bit crazy, and I imagine it's worse for her.  Several times in the last couple of days I've let her go to sleep on me because that was the only way she would sleep at all.

Does anyone have any miracle suggestions?

[Fenella]

Ds went thru a time around 4 weeks where suddenly started fighting naps i started wind down about 15mins earlier and that seemed to work a treat.  Till now (6 weeks can't get thru the 20 min jolt driving me crazybut that is a whole other post)

[Deb_in_oz]

i agree with PP - reduce A time a bit and get to bed earlier and shoudl be easier to settle

[hb]

Great!  Thanks!  I'll try that...  Several times she's missed her morning nap altogether because she couldn't settle down.  I'll try not waiting for the yawns, but putting her down before that.  Until now, I've been hesitant to put her down before yawns because I felt bad about making her spend too much of her A time swaddled in a dark room, when she has so little awake time to start with...   It does sound like it will help, though!

[Zoey]

HB- I agree with everyone!   Also, don't feel badly about putting her down before the yawn, cause at this age - when you actually see this yawn, they have already crossed that bridge into overtired land!  At this wee age, all they really need to do is eat, and sleep lol!  I know it seems like they sleep the day away, but they need to sleep so much to grow - she will grow more this first year then she will ever in her life!  Don't feel badly, she loves it - it's almost like being in the tummy again!

Keep up the great work - 0-3months was so challenging for me.  It gets better, soon she will be awake for longer periods, no worries!
Love,
Zoey