Any tips for a 6-week-old who fights swaddling and struggles with sleep?

Hi ladies ❤️ Just wondering if anyone has been through something similar with their little ones.

My baby girl is 6 weeks old and we're having a bit of a struggle with sleep at the moment. She sleeps much better in my arms, but as soon as I put her down she often wakes up.

She also seems to have a really strong startle reflex. Even with her eyes closed, she'll suddenly throw her arms up, kick her legs, stretch and wriggle around. Sometimes she settles for a few seconds, then starts moving again and eventually wakes up crying.

Recently she's also started fighting her swaddle, especially during the night. She seems uncomfortable and struggles quite a lot in it, so we're thinking it's time to move away from swaddling and try an arms-free sleep sack instead.

I'm just wondering if anyone else's babies went through this around 6 weeks? Did switching to an arms-free sleep sack help? Did they eventually settle better and stop startling themselves awake so much?

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I’m in the same boat with my almost 6-week-old so I would love to hear what people recommend!! 🫶🏻

Get a baby carrier and wear the baby around. When they fall asleep then swaddle them. Put them in a rocker if you have one

One thing that worked for me is once she sleeps in my arms I have a blanket ready in her bassinet. Right as I put her down I wrap her arms right away! So she still feels like she is secure in my arms and I always keep a hand on her chest for a a few seconds on around her eyes bc sometimes they still feel like they are in the womb

Yeah mine 2 she hates too I keep 1 arm in 1 arm out

Arms free sleep sack. Thats what i did for my now 2yo. The startle reflex will wake them up initially, but they learned to overcome it very quickly and sleep very soundly. The startle reflex is actually really healthy for babies to do.

I’m a lounger with a blanket tucked tight around into the bassinet mattress for safety. But my baby sleeps with her arms up, also startles easily

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