My ds is 6 weeks old, and this is our second attempt at E.A.S.Y. (I tried at 4 weeks and got too frustrated that he'd cry frantically despite my best attempts at shh-pat, so I got weak and went back to rocking, which worked like a dream... but I don't want him to become reliant on being rocked to sleep, so I'm back at Attempt #2!)
Anyway, when I put him down for his naps, he seems very calm and I catch his sleep window pretty well I think. We do a great wind-down, and I put him in his crib so he's awake, but looking very sleepy. I shh-pat him about 15 minutes after his eyes close, when it appears he's fast asleep, then I leave. About 15 minutes later, he will start to fuss, and it quickly develops into a cry. I hustle back in and shh-pat him again, as above, and leave when it appears he's in deep sleep.
Well, the whole nap goes like that... he only sleeps in 15 minute intervals, even if I NEVER leave the room and stay to shh-pat him for up to 30 minutes! So, sometimes it takes me 1.5 hours of shh-pat before he really settles for a nap, but now it's time for him to eat, only I just finally got him to sleep!
So, do I wake him to feed after he FINALLY just got to sleep, or do I let him get the sleep he needs and feed him when he finally wakes up?
And second question: Should I start counting the length of his nap from when he actually falls into a deep sleep, or from the first time I put him down to shh-pat (knowing he'll be up every 15 minutes for the next while).
Today, for example:
7:00 AM - Feed
8:15 - tired cues, wind-down
8:30- shh-pat in crib (he has eyes closed but is awake)
8:50 - I leave the room
9:05 - wakes up crying, I return to shh-pat
This continues until 10:30, when he finally falls asleep. But, its time for his feeding now! Do I wake him or do I let him get the sleep we fought so hard for (and he definitely needs).
If its relevant at all, he's a great eater, he's exclusively breastfed and is gaining weight appropriately. He's about 11 1/2 lbs now.
