tired signs - 6week old

[effie]

DS is 6 weeks on Friday and we started EASY just this week. I'm attempting the 4S's to sleep (though to be honest am a bit confused as to why and when to use sh-sh-pat-pat)

Monday I must have missed all of his tired signs because had to calm down tears etc before he would sleep, and it took anywhere between 10 and 40mins for him to settle to sleep from being put in his moses basket. Yesterday I started the winding down as soon as he'd yawned for a third time (seeing as he'll yawn then happily play for another 10mins before yawning again) but he woulnd't sleep at all - the whole past 24 hours he's only slept 20mins max at a time so it's been really tough (along with the usual meltdowns last night)...I eventually had to just try our old rocking him to sleep, let him sleep on us, but he kept waking so hoping maybe it was a wind problem or because he didn't end up sleeping in the day he was just too overtired at night.

So, today is a new day. He was knackered after waking for this morning's feed, still took half an hour to settle to sleep. It's just taken 40mins (if he now stays alseep), when I used sh-sh-pat-pat with him over my shoulder, but think he fell asleep before I put him down. Again I've tried to start settling him when he yans a 4th or 5th time - but he then just sits in his basket wide awake for the 1st 20mins at least then starts to grizzle and cry anyway like he did on Monday when I thought I was missing the tired signs...any ideas or advice at all???

Monday went so so well, yesterday was a complete catastrophe, am keeping going because I know its going to take time and patience but just not sure (in my tired state) what I'm supposed to be looking for anymore

[effie]

Well I can post what has happened the last three days (they've ended up being so different) since we started. Have put S as the times I put him down to sleep:

MONDAY:
E 06:40
A
S 07:50 (settled at 08:00)

E 10:35 (woke him up)
A
S 11:35 (settled at 12:15)

E 13:40 (woke him up)
A
S 15:10 (settled at 15:25)

E 16:15 (woke up himself)
A
S 17:15 (settled at 17:45)

E -
A 19:00 Bath (woke him for bath - we're trying to keep to our current bath and bed routine)
E 19:25
S 19:45 (settled 20:15)

DF 22:55

TUESDAY (day from hell! I didn't wake him at all)
E 07:10
A
S 08:22 (settled 08:36)

E 10:25
A
S 11:27 (settled 12:55!!!)

E 13:20
A
S 14:34 (settled 15:40 but kept waking and being settled til...)

E 16:20
A
S 17:15 (settled 17:45)

A 19:00 (Bath, woken for)
E 19:35
S 20:15 (settled 21:30)

E 22:10....It all went very pear shaped from there, he didn't sleep for more than half an hour all night, we got the screaming meltdowns again and I gave in eventually letting him fall asleep on me then finally took him into our bed, but he was unsettled the whole time

TODAY (so far!)
E 07:55
A
S 08:30 (settled 09:00 - think exhausted from the night!)

E 11:05
A
S 12:20 (settled 13:00)

E 14:35 (kind of woken)
A
S 15:30 (settled 16:15

E 16:55 (he woke screaming and was rooting like hell so I fed him rather than push to wait another half hour)
A
S 17:50 (settled 18:30)

He's still sleeping now.... any help gratefully appreciated!! Maybe I should try to get him to go to sleep 45mins after he wakes for a feed tomorrow and see if that helps? But then I'm confused, because aren't I suppoe to make sure he doesn't sleep longer than 2 hours in a row?

Before EASY he woud have two longer naps and a catnap during the day...

[ksmorris31]

I was having the same problem that you were having after starting my LO on EASY at 6 weeks. I am by no means an expert and new to this site but have learned thru other people on this site that I needed to put him down 45 mins after he woke up from a nap. That included feeding, diaper change, and wind down. I was upset at first because I was not able to spend any time with him besides a feeding. I also learned to put him down at the first yawn or even before if we hit the 45 min mark. It made a huge differnence, even though at times he would yawn and seem content I began to figure out if i waited for a few more he would reach the point of no return and it would take over an hour to settle him down. As of now, it has worked tremendously. He is now 8 weeks and we started sh-pat less than a week ago and has done great. He sleeps for over an hour (before he only slept for maybe  30 mins and would wake up screaming) I often times have to wake him to feed. I have been told to wake him if he is still sleeping and it is time to eat, never let him miss a feeding due to sleep. It works for us, he is such a different baby during the day very happy and alert a huge change from a few weeks ago. It seems like we have tackled the nap problems and are now working on night wakings. Hope this helps.

[effie]

that does help thank you...has his A time extended now too? So basically use AP to get him to sleep in the meantime? am so confused about it all...

[ksmorris31]

I have not extended his A time from 45 mins. I always aim for that. It was my personal preference to use AP for a week or so just so I could get to know his signs and how long it took him to winddown etc. I needed to get to know him a little better, but once i felt confident that i knew what he needed and I was emotionally committed I started shh/pat. I am lucky it has not taken too long for him to catch on to shh/pat there are some rough times but I told myself that once I started I was not going to quit half way thru it. I just had to do what was best for him and I. Swaddling and white noise have also made a huge diffence. 

[effie]

hmmm....that's what I was attempting this week I think. We've alwasy swaddled him at night from day one, just started during nap time now. It just took me an hour to get him to sleep despite putting him down after 45mins, he drifted several times, seemed to be asleep twice but kept waking. Just found myself rocking him to stem the crying, then as soon as he was calm trying to put him down but he'd cry again

Jay3 am doing my best to follow your advice to make sure he just catches up on his sleep...do you mean just within one day or over several days?

[~Alexa~]

I started sleep training at the same age, and remember it was frustrating, because I spent 1 hr with the shpat.  I quit for two weeks and did AP, and then started again with the shpat when he was 10 weeks, and now my lo is 14 weeks old, and I have to do very little shpat! I just put him down after our WD routine and place my hand on his chest, and he closes his eyes.  I leave the room at that moment. I don't have to wait the 20 min.  Trust me, you will get there!
Just don't worry if sometimes you use AP for getting him to sleep longer.  Your lo is sooo young, and he will learn it, but just give him time!! My advice is not to worry so much, you will have lots of time for sleep training! And as he grows, things get easier!! Hang in there!

I would also do some AP so that he catches up on his sleep for several days.  You can use this days to get to know your lo better!!