6 week old EASY schedule and bedtime

[releathe]

I am a FTM w/a 6 week old, we are just starting EASY and I'm unsure how to start.  Right now she falls asleep late, between 12 and 2 am.  Sleeps in 4 to 5 increments until 11 am to 1 pm.  Obviously we'd like to push back her bedtime but what is a good time to try and put down a 6 week old?  Do you use EASY up until bedtime?  For example, if we tried to put her down after the 11 pm feeding, would I still be using the EAS schedule for the 8 pm feeding? 

[*Natasha*]

Are you bottle or breast feeding? When do you want to start and finish your day? Are you feeding 3hrly?

[releathe]

We are bottle feeding and I'm trying for a 3 hour feeding schedule.  This is all so new and seems so hard with a baby so young, I'm so worried about making a mistake and never getting it right. 

[*Natasha*]

Ok here is a sample routine for a baby on a 3hr EASY


E: 7.00 wake up and feed
A: 7.30 or 7.45 (depending on how long feed takes)
S: 8.00 (nap)
Y: your choice
E: 10.00
A: 10.30 or 10.45
S: 11.00 (nap)
Y: your choice
E: 1.00
A: 1.30 or 1.45
S: 2.00 (nap)
Y: your choice
E: 4.00 feed
S: 5.00 or 6.00 or somewhere in between – catnap (approx. 40mins) to get baby through the next feed and bath
E: 7.00
A: bath
S: 7.30 bedtime
Y: the evening is yours
E: 10 or 11pm dreamfeed
Any other feeds she wakes for.

Don't worry about making mistakes we have all made them and we are here to help you through them.
Try getting her up at 7am and start the day. Don't stress to much if things go exactly the way i have outlined the whole idea of EASY is to go with the flow.
Is you DD falling asleep independently or are you holding/rocking/feeding to sleep?

[Grace's Mom]

Be sure to check out our EASY FAQ's...located at the top of the EASY Thread.  There is a link in there called HOW TO START YOUR BABY ON EASY...there are some great links in there you may want to take a look at.

Have you read any of Tracy's books? 

No worries about mistakes.  Everyday is a process and we just do the best we can with what we know.  No day will be perfect!  The great thing about a routine is that it's flexible.  It doesn't have to be the exact same time everyday.  Just like our days don't look quite the same every day, neither will your lo's.  Just be sure to use this time to really get to know your baby...know your baby's cries, coos, etc.  And with anything, putting your lo on a routine and teaching independent sleep will take time.  It's all a process but months down the road you'll be so thankful that you did it.  It's so worth it! 

Enjoy your precious baby!  Time goes by so fast.

Melissa

[releathe]

I've read and keep reading Secrets of the Baby Whisperer but I get the feeling I really need to read her other books to understand EASY.  My biggest concern is the Sleep.  Sophie's longest stretch of sleep is 5 hours and lately takes place from 2 am to 7 am.  How do I get her to go down at 7:30?  And how do I get her to nap?  I think I understand the shush pat, but it could potentially take hours before she goes to sleep.   For bedtime would you do the routine and then just keep going in and doing the shush pat until she falls asleep?  I've looked at the FAQ's but I'll read them again.  Thanks again for the advice!

[Grace's Mom]

Since you stated that your biggest concern is SLEEP I am going to move this over to GENERAL SLEEP as they will be able to teach you how to put your lo down and will be able to give you much better advice in regards to sleep.

-Melissa

[elmarie]

As melissa said we learn as we go along-so don't worry too much. 

Natasha has posted a sample routine.  I think it is also a good idea to still have 2 cluster feeds and a dream feed at this age. This should help to stretch the night time sleep.It could be something like this

6.00pm 1st cluster feed
7.30 catnap
8.00 2nd clusterfeed
In bed after cluster feed
10-11 pm dreamfeed

A time will increase slowly and the 2nd cluster feed can be dropped around 8 weeks.  Dreamfeed will continue to more and less 7-8months.
 If you can maybe get hold of Tracy's book Baby Whisperer Solves all Your Problems I think it will be very helpful for you, she adds more sleeping info in this book and I still use it with my toddler.   It is extremely important to start an adequate sleep routine and using the 4s to get him to go down relaxed (p.181 BWSAYP Tracy explains how to do this).

PS:  A glass of wine always helps for sleep deprevation

[Grace's Mom]

I would be sure to check out the SLEEP FAQ's located under NAPs, General Sleep and Night Wakings....each one has different info which will help answer a great many of your independent sleep training questions and other sleep questions. 

Melissa