Thinking I am not directing enough

[passportstamp]

My baby is 5 weeks old, and I am watching his cues and trying to act on them- but then he is determining how long his activity, naps and feeds go. I don't really understand how if he is not sleepy, I can get him to sleep or extend his activity period if he's tired quickly. I feel like I am supposed to be providing more direction than I am. Zach will sometimes stay awake for more than 2 hours at 5 weeks, which I know is way too long, but he is super resistant to being put to sleep before he's good and ready. Often trying to put him to sleep results in fussing and crying and no sleep anyway. Topping off is I really have no idea how long he should be napping at this age or having activity because a lot of the examples I see are for older babies. Zach weighs over 10 pounds so he does sleep longer at night than many babies his age, so I am lost with my peers.

[*Nicola*]

((Hugs))

I agree with the PP ... it is likely that he is likely OT before you put him down, which is leading to the fussing and crying you are seeing.

At 5 weeks most babies are up for about 1 hour at a time.  That is including feed, burps, changing, cuddles, 'playtime', and wind down.  So, you are really looking for him to be back asleep by around the one hour mark. 

Are you breast or bottle feeding?  Some breast fed babies are feeding 2.5 hourly at this age, so it is likely that you will be following a 2.5 or 3 hour EASY.  Do you have the BW book?  Tracy gives examples of EASY for a month old baby in the book