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Sounds like she just wants to be close to her mama. Imo, 8 weeks is way too young for CIO. My LO rarely, if ever, took a 1.5 hour nap . . . she averaged 30-45 minutes. Naps as short as 10 minutes *count* toward total sleep time. And that's what I would focus on, total sleep time.

Have you tried wearing her?

DD fights daytime sleep as well. She just wants to be held and if I have her in the carrier she sleeps great. She had a rough week at 8 weeks and I attribute it to a development spurt. Now she's 9 weeks and I'm finally starting to be able to put her in the swing drowsy and she'll nap for 20-40 minutes. I keep trying the crib for daytime naps but her startle reflex is so strong she wakes herself up after a few minutes (if not during the transfer) and refuses to fall asleep in the crib if I put her down drowsy. She has hated being swaddled arms in since day 1 so that's not an option. I agree with you, 8 weeks is too young to CIO. Does your LO like the swing or RnP, something that will make her feel more snuggled than a wide open crib?

DS never took naps longer than 30-40 minutes at that age, and yep - he generally wanted to be held. I just went with it, there were some days i felt "unproductive" but I tried to focus instead on snuggling him up while I could.

We were lucky if we got a 45 min nap at that age. And I had to hold her for all her naps. You put her down, she woke up.

My little guy (now 16 weeks) started taking 30 minute naps around that age, and he still does. For a while, he'd nap for longer if I was holding him - so I often did. But after a while, he would still only nap for 30 minutes in my arms - so I gave up on holding him. I can sometimes rock him back to sleep, but only if he wakes up crying and falls asleep within 5 minutes of me rocking him -- otherwise it's not happening, and I figure it's not worth my effort. He now takes four 30 minute naps a day. Sometimes he'll throw in a 2-2.5 hour nap just to keep me on my toes, though. I'm anxiously awaiting nap consolidation.

I don't know that this is an issue, but also, the time that she is feeding is considered awake time . . . so she may be awake more than what you think. (if so, she could be overtired and thus not sleeping well . . . but I think it's just that 45 minute sleep cycle and not being able to transition to a deeper sleep.)

To get a long nap at that age we had to hold her or wear her. Her naps didn't consolidate until 6 months.

@daniellemybelle: how are you putting her to sleep? Are you rocking, nursing etc.? I found at that age if I put S down when she was already out she would only sleep for 30 mins ie one sleep cycle. She lengthened naps once she started going down awake.

@daniellemybelle: Sounds like my LO. I'm hoping they'll grow out of needing to be held for every nap. It's hard to get anything done!

@daniellemybelle: Hahaha - nothing is ever easy, is t?! Snooze for 10 minutes or more = count toward sleep time. On the boob and awake = awake time. And fwiw, my LO didn't wake up happy most of the time. She still doesn't! (and she's 15 months). You're doing an awesome job mama - it does get better, I promise!

At that age I just have in and let LO nap in the swing. Naps are different than nights. She slept ok in the pnp at night. But I don't feel bad about the "baby containers." Just interacting during feelings and diaper changes and tummy time should suffice at that age especially since they happen so frequently. So my opinion is if the swing works go for it. Non-swing naps at that age were often like ten mins! She didn't consistently take 30-45 min naps in the crib til 4-5 months. And then there were still 10-20 min naps sometimes. Stuck with 30-45 min naps til I think closer to 10 months? She wasn't a great napper. Now at 15 months were at one 1:20-2:00 nap a day. I say in the first few months just try for regular naps and then just do what works!

@daniellemybelle: I would definitely try moving up bedtime...at 8/9 wks my LO was going to bed at 8 I think. If you're concerned about feedings you could either wake her or try to do a dream feed around 10, maybe right before you go to bed.