Sylvie is just about 6 weeks old, and proving the theory about all babies having a more difficult time at this point. She has been out of arms for less than an hour a day for the last 4 or 5 days. Dh was amazed this weekend with how much time she just NEEDS to be in arms. So, I finally started swaddling her in the evenings and she sleeps a bit better as we're trying to get ourselves to bed. Then, I started swaddling her in the afternoon, and she slept 1.5 hours yesterday afternoon. This morning, she yawned not long after getting up, so I nursed her really well, pottied her, nursed her some more with her swaddled, and vaccuumed with her on my shoulder. Then put her in the cradle. She slept until I turned the vaccuum off. So, when she yawned next, I did the same nurse, potty, swaddle routine and walked her to sleep, and put her in my room with the radio tuned to static, and she slept 1.5 hours, long enough for me to mop the kitchen and make lunch and clean up lunch. Now, she's well swaddled in the cradle with me close by. I AM a firm believer in lots of in arms time, but my head, shoulders, and back are aching, and I do have to put her down occassionally. Also, she will only ride in the sling if I am actively walking. She won't be content with the stop and start of housework. Also, is this very dear baby the only one who thinks the shoulder is the only comfortable place of her mama's body (with the exception of the breast, of course)?