I've been reading quite a bit on these boards, and although I am new to posting on them, I am not new to the Baby Whisperer. I have loved the book since, my first son was born over 3 years ago.
I have questions concerning naps, but because I know you will ask, here is a recent day for me and my 9 week old son. This is fairly typical. I have tried to implement EASY since I brought him home, but have a few questions:
7:30 am Wake up, has breast feeding
9 am tired, rock to sleep, put in crib
9:03 am wakes up, couldn't get him to fall back asleep
10:30 am (try to feed him a bottle, but won't take it) went to sleep after rocking - put in crib.
11am Wakes up (I try to get him to go back to sleep, but no luck)
11:30am Eats 2 ounces of bottle (won't eat more)
12pm begins to show signs of tiredness again (yawns a lot)
12:45 Rock to sleep and is out almost instantly, place in crib
1:03pm begins fussing, transitions to wide awake crying
1:25pm eats about 3 1/2 ounces of bottle
2:05 pm begins his tired fussy routine, he's asleep as I walk him upstairs to his bedroom. Place in crib.
2:43pm Wakes up
2:45pm Has Breast feeding
2:50pm Falls asleep eating at breast. I lay him down in the crib
2:55pm Awake again and not very happy!
4:00pm Breast feeding
4:05pm Falls asleep at breast
4:10pm, Place in crib
4:25pm Awake
5:30pm Falls asleep while I am holding him and talking to someone who has knocked on the door.
6:00pm, I awaken him as I set him down so I can eat dinner.
6:45pm Has warm bath, gets in Jammies
7:10pm Has breast feeding and 3 ounces of bottle immediately following, while rocking him in his darkened bedroom. Place in crib and wait.
7:30pm. Wakes up, gets held and rocked.
7:45pm. Asleep again for good in his bed.
4:30am Awakens, breastfeeds 7 minutes, back asleep
7:30am. Awake again for another day of it all.
I know he is not eating every four hours, but more frequently. And I often wonder if this impacts his short naps. I can't get him to nap for longer than 30 minutes. I can't seem to get him to take those 3 naps a day, 1 to 1 1/2 hours long each that I thought according to the Baby Whisperer, some babies can do at this age. How do I get him to take longer than 30 minute catnaps or am I being unrealistic? AT night, I consider him a superstar for sleeping for as long as he does and only waking once. But during the day, it feels like I am either feeding him or putting him to sleep, and it leaves me with little time for my 3 year old who also needs my attention.
Are my expectations to high or can I acheive some longer naps and feedings in which he eats more like 4-6 ounces at a time with greater time intervals between?
Thanks so much for any advice, suggestions!