(not) napping nightmare

[Cora Marie's Mama]

My sweet LO (at 7 wks old) has started taking much longer than 20min to enter deep sleep and usually has to suck on something to settle down (our finger or a paci). 

She also startles awake easily, though in other respects she's not a touchy baby at all.  Despite doing a good, consistent wind-down routine, holding her still (but sucking), and then lying her down and shhh-patting for up to 45 minutes(!!!) and not leaving until she is good & droopy, she still startles awake about 45 minutes later.  This is consuming our day!!!

 :x

Thankfully she sleeps great at night.
HELP for daytime is much appreciated!

[Matthew's Mommy]

Hi there..

This is typical at this age, to start the 45 min. nap. 

When she falls asleep, you mentioned that she is sucking.. does she use a pacifier or your finger?  If she's sucking to sleep.. let's encourage her to use the soother instead of your finger, and then have a look at the Sticky, "How Tracy helped Josie.."

[Matthew's Mommy]

I'm putting together a resource area for newborns/young infants and sleep.

Here's the shortcut:

http://www.babywhisperer.com/forum/teaching-sleep-to-newborns-and-young-infants-vt39164.html?start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

[Cora Marie's Mama]

Jane, thanks for your suggestions.  I read the resource thread & found it helpful.
Why would you switch to a pacifier (rather than a finger)?  She spits out the paci constantly, which startles her, so I had quit using it.  I use her sucking intesity on my finger to judge when she's starting to fall asleep.
Laura