Yawns and sleep cues

[NetMouse]

I am a bit confused about the yawning issue 

My 3 week old often doesn't yawn at all before she just zonks out on me... At other times, she will yawn while still alert and happy, and doesn't seem a bit tired.

This morning for example, she was happily lying on my lap after a feed, watching people in the room - and did a yawn. It was only 40 mins after she'd woken up from a long nap, so I didn't react straight away.  5 mins later she yawned again, so I thought OK, time for bed. I took her upstairs and swaddled her in a darkened room, and she immediately started crying. I could have sworn it was protest at being banished from the nice living room. She wouldn't settle to be cuddled tired, but screamed for quite a long time, and was only quieted by lots of patting and shhing - while cuddled up to me. I didn't think you were meant to have to start at that stage of the routine! When I finally got her to sleep (after maybe 40 mins) she then only slept for 45 mins.

I let her have another feed when she woke up, but she was rather sleepy. She was awake to have her nappy changed, but then kept falling back to sleep on me without any yawns at all...

What is most people's experience with sleepy cues at this age?

Many thanks!

[mamatolevi]

I'm new, too, and just getting started with EASY, but here's my experience. My LO is 8weeks old and only ever yawns in the first ten or so minutes after he wakes up. So, I can't really use yawns as a cue. The biggest sign from him is his eyes - as soon as his eyes starts getting smaller, I know it's time to swaddle. It works (almost) every time. I know you're not constantly looking into your LO's eyes, so knowing how long she generally stays awake will help immensely. My LO generally lasts about 1hr - 1hr 15 min so when the hour mark hits, I start watching like a hawk so I don't miss his sleep window. HTH!!!

[Chicane]

Hi Gals

Welcome to both of you!

Signs can be really hard to learn. Some babies don't have any signs at all. Other take a while to develop their signs. My DS yawns after BFing...he never yawns from tiredness until he is actually in his room. His sleepy signs are eye rubbing (which requires hand control) and a cranky bark. So, it took a ling while for me to actually figure out the signs. Don't be too hard on yourselves if you don't know them yet...they are still developing. EASY is often about trial and error and you are still getting to know each other. Things will settle soon, and you will learn to read your LO like a book in no time.

NetMouse - at this age you can pretty much go by the 1 hour A time - that includes feed, change and settling time.
Was there a lot going on in the living room? Could she have been a bit over stimulated? A yawn can sometimes signify that as well!

[NetMouse]

Thanks both! It does all seem a bit confusing at the moment, but I'm sure we'll get it sorted out in the end...

There wasn't a great deal going on downstairs I don't think. My husband was helping our 3 year old build something with blocks - but relatively quietly.

Chiicane, do you mean that she should actually be asleep in her cot 1 hour after waking up? It is generally more like 1.5, including the whole upstairs bit.

Oh well, we've had a much better day that yesterday, all in all, so I'm off for some kip for as long as possible!!

[Chicane]

yep thats right - 1 hour after waking...1 hour 15 mins max...it can be really hard to fit everything in in that 1 hour especially if you have a slow eater or one who poos just before being put in the cot! Not to mention a toddler as well!

1.5 hrs might be too much for her...try your hardest to shorten that by a bit but don't beat yourself up over it. I used to get so stressed because of not being able to fit everything in the 1 hour but it was silly to be stressed about it and made my time with my son only about stress and the clock which is not how any of us want it to be, especially in the early days. Try to stay calm and go with the flow...

And i can guarantee that in one weeks time it will be more sorted out and then again in another 2 weeks and then another 2 weeks after that...

hugs to you xxx