Hi,
I'm new to the board and have a few questions. I haven't had time to read Tracey's book but have spent a LOT of time reading through FAQs, etc. this past week in anticipation of trying pat/shush on my 16 week old son. Until now, Dh and I have always needed to rock him (standing with forceful rocking and shhing) until he's almost asleep. Then, for naps, he's been going into his swing as he didn't seem to tolerate his crib for naps. He typically slept in his crib from bedtime (8-8:30 pm) until about 4 am when he would wake and go into his swing for the rest of the night until about 6:30 or 7 am. He would also wake usually 2x during the night to feed.
Anyway, I decided that I can't physically rock him much longer in my arms since he's getting heavier and was looking for a way to get him to sleep on his own without letting him just 'cry it out'. This lead me to the Baby Whisperer site and this board. We have him on a very loose schedule because his naps are always no longer than 45-60 min long during the day so the EASY plan doesn't seem like it will work until we can extend naps. (He always wakes up and then it's not time to eat yet but sometimes he's so upset after his nap that all that will soothe him is eating but then it's not a full feeding).
We're tried patting/shhing him in his crib (no swing) for the last 2 nights and we're on day 2. He's ok at night going back down to bed in his crib all night but for naps, he's crying for at least 40 min while we pat/shh and even then, sometimes won't sleep. Or he'll go quiet for 15 min and then start up crying again. I feel that we're just letting him cry it out. Also, all the FAQs talk about patting on the back which is confusing to me - he sleeps on his back and I don't really quite understand how to 'prop' him up. Wouldn't he just roll over when you stop patting him and this would upset him?
I'm looking for advice - here's what happened in the last day (Dylan is 12 1/4 lbs and is 16 weeks old)
Bedtime last night at 7:30 (went down around 8:10 after 40 min of crying/pat and shush)
Woke at 10:30 pm- BF, right back down
Woke at 1:30 am - BF, right back down
Woke at 5:15 am - BF, right back down
A - 6:50 am
E - 7:30 am (BF)
S - 8:10 - Back to bed, fell asleep after pat/shush at 8:40 (slept until 9:40)
A - 9:40-10:00
E - 10:00 - 10:20 (he was getting fussy and so I fed him prior to the 3 hour cycle being up)
A - 10:20 - 11:10
S - Down at 11:10, still crying almost 2 hours later with pat/shush (took him out after about 50 min to re-swaddle after he had gone quiet for 15 min but started crying again)
He seems to keep crying with pat/shush and I don't know how to get him on a 3-hour EASY if he keeps only napping 45-60 minutes...and eating seems to be the only thing to calm him. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, I think I need more clarification on pat/shush as we're patting him to the rythm of a clock (tick tock) on the side of the leg or body and shhing him loudly in the crib (not picking up) and this isn't helping him settle. Also, we tried leaving one arm out of the swaddle so he can hold on to his 'lovie' blanket and then started leaving both arms out since he also likes to chew his fingers to calm himself.
Any thoughts?
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
