My newborn fights sleep and won't settle — what am I doing wrong?

You are almost certainly not doing anything wrong. Many newborns struggle to transition from wakefulness to sleep because their nervous systems are immature. Signs of overtiredness (yawning, eye rubbing, fussiness) mean you have a brief window to help them settle before they become overstimulated. Try the '5 S's' (swaddling, side/stomach position while held, shushing, swinging, sucking) which mimic the womb environment. Watch wake windows: newborns can typically only handle 45–90 minutes of awake time before needing sleep again. A dark, quiet environment with white noise helps. Some babies need more help transitioning than others — this is temperament, not a parenting failure. Avoid the trap of keeping a baby up longer hoping they'll sleep better; overtired babies actually sleep worse. The first 3 months are about survival, not schedules. Consult your pediatrician if your newborn seems inconsolable for more than 3 hours daily, which could indicate colic or an underlying issue.