Other difficult sleepers?

Question

My LO is 11 weeks today and has been a difficult sleeper since day 1. She’s never wanted us to set her down - she’s get plenty of sleep if we were always holding her. Drowsy but awake is the most infuriating advice I get from anyone! It’s a joke - the second she realizes I’m moving to set her down, she starts screaming and will not settle.
Pediatrician told us to let her cry it out. I hate this with every fiber of my Being, I end up sitting in another room crying along with her. She’s not just whimpering or fussing, I’m talking full out screams.
Her naps last 30-40 minutes. But if I’m holding her, she’s slept for 2-2.5 hours.
At night, sometimes I get long stretches of sleep from her, around 4-5 hours. Other nights she’s restless and tosses & turns and fusses most of the night.
I’ve read so many blogs and websites and advice on message boards. I’ve tried so many things - swaddled arms in, one arm out, both arms out. She sleeps in a dark room with white noise. Ive tried rocking, singing, reading books. Nothing will settle her enough to let me put her down drowsy.
I’m about to lose my mind - I don’t know what else to try to get this little girl to sleep. But I hate seeing my sweet, smiley girl turned into a crying, cranky mess

Answer

Girl. Take a breathe. You’re doing amazing. I’d be getting a new Pediatrician step one, telling you to let a newborn cry it out? No. Your baby sounds 100% normal, just like my first and my second, but this time I know it’s normal and I’m just going with it. My first I drove myself crazy trying “fix” him or “figure it out” just keep meeting baby’s needs like you are. My babies don’t sleep for more than half an hour unless held or worn, naps consolidate around 5 months, you can sleep train at 6 months, get a good comfortable wrap/carrier for baby to nap in and just try to power through the next few months. Baby will figure out sleep when he’s ready and rushing it will only cause you and baby stress. Google the 4th trimester if you haven’t heard about it, baby still thinks you and he are ONE being, don’t fight him on it, this is just as hard on him as it is on you and the sooner you embrace it the better you’ll feel I promise. Yes some babies sleep through the night or don’t need to be held for naps, but some babies do, it sucks lol but that’s mama life. You got this mama you’re stronger than you think.

Answer

I feel you! We luckily have good night time sleep but naps are really rough right now (12 weeks old today). She will not go down sleepy or drowsy. If we do, she will scream her head off and I can’t handle it. She’s still falling asleep on me and I’m putting her down after that.
Honestly we have a phone consult with a sleep consultant tomorrow because I know what this could all turn into and it leads to poor development. I’ll keep you posted and give you their info if we find success.

Answer

In the first week we noticed this and the only thing that worked for us was cosleeping. 
Once she got comfortable with us in bed (we have a hard foam mattress that is similar to her crib mattress), I let her nap in her crib with the shirt I slept in beside her in the crib during the day and continued to co sleep for the week. 
And finally I put her down at night with my shirt still in the crib. Now she sleeps through the night ( except now when she's going through a thing ..) but for the most part she is good. 
You could try that? All I can say is do whatever you feel is right. There's no mommy manual and if your gut is telling you something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it. 
You're doing the best you can. Take a deep breath and remember you matter too. It's the hardest thing to do while your mind is trying to keep another human alive but seriously, five minutes to finish a hot coffee or take a shower really does wonders

Answer

My son is the exact same age and we have similar issues! I’m sitting here watching him move around in his crib after I just put him down (thankfully not crying yet). I have no helpful tips but know that you’re not alone hun!

Answer

Ok here is what I have learned!!
Reason why their naps are so short is that they are not yet able to connect sleep cycles. Baby sleep cycles are roughly 30-45 minutes in length. The key to teaching them how to do this is to always put them down awake to sleep. This will teach them to put themselves to sleep to connect those sleep cycles.
It takes a lot of practice!!! I still have to hold my LO in order for her to fall back asleep. Sometimes I’ll hold her or sometimes I will rock her back to sleep and put her back in her crib.
Make sure to begin to fade sleep props around this age (co sleeping, dock a tots, bassinets, swings, etc). Try to put them to sleep in their crib 1-2 x’s per day.

Answer

This literally sounds like you’re talking about my daughter. She has never been a good sleeper. I’m lucky if I can get 11 hours total out of her and some days it can be as bad as 8 hours TOTAL. She naps for 30 minutes or less during the day and at night we sometimes get lucky and get one 2 or 2.5 hour stretch then it’s just 1 to 1.5 hours after that! She’ll be 3 months soon 😫. She has reflux so we have to hold her up after she feeds for 30 minutes, and she prefers to sleep while nursing. So basically I’m lucky if I can get a few minutes of sleep. Generally I fall asleep with her on my chest sitting up and she can sleep like that for 2.5 hours. I used to freak out about it, but now I just let her so I can get some rest.
This week is extra rough, she will NOT sleep in her bassinet. I have the HALO so it’s right next to me, but she just wants to be held. And she has only been sleeping for an hour with no long stretches. I don’t know what is going on. She isn’t due for sleep regression for a couple of weeks, but I’m hoping it came early because I’m ready for this to end! 
Like you I have tried everything and have read everything! Nothing helps 😫. I just wanted you to know that you aren’t alone. It’s 4 am as I write this and she’s currently sleeping on me as I sit 🤷🏽‍♀️. I just try to enjoy the cuddling as much as I can and hope that as soon as we introduce solids she’ll get better. I’m planning on talking to her doctor tomorrow and see if there’s anything else. Will update if I find a solution. Hang in there and know that you are definitely not alone!

Answer

I feel like you're describing me and my son. The only way I've been able to get him to sleep at night is sleeping with me and during the day a body carrier but he's been fighting that during the day and only wanting to sleep for 30-40 minutes.

Answer

My son is a restless sleeper after a few hours in. It's awful.

Answer

Youre not supposed to CIO until 4 months minimum.
However, my las daughter was like this and at 5 months we did CIO and it was a GAME changer. Literally amazing. Everyone got the sleep they needed.

Other difficult sleepers?

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