EASY routine becoming too rigid

[newmummy82]

Hi,

I'm a first time mum to a gorgeous 9 week old (textbook/touchy)and we have been BW'ing since day 1. I think we are doing ok with it but I have a few questions about EASY routine.

She naps really well after some initial shh-patting in the early weeks, now goes down easily with 5 minutes of mantra crying. We BF and from what I can gather from others she is doing well sleep wise so not complaining! Gaining weight well and generally healthy and happy.
She won't take a dummy- tried for few weeks and gave up!
I have to wake her from most of her naps to feed and occasionally have to wake her in morning(not sure if this is what I should be doing).

Below is typical EASY give or take half an hour

7am E
7.30 8.10 A
8.10-09.50 S
10 am E
10.30-11 A
11-12.50 S
1300 E
1330-1400 A
1400-1545 S
1600 E
1630-1700A
1700 S (catnap- between 30-50 mins)
1800 E
18.20 bath
1900 S
2200 DF

wakes once anywhere between 3 and 5 for feed

 My questions are:

1 she really can't manage a longer A time and gets sooo grumpy if we try, so what to do when she wakes early in morning (ie 6). Do we start day from then? Really don't mind early starts-par for the course with babies I know but does this result in whole day 'slipping' with earlier bed time and even earlier wake up next day?
Today she woke at 6 but wasn't particulalry hungry so didn't feed til 6.30 but then gap between feed and sleep gets very short.

2 I know EASY is supposed to be a flexible routine but I am finding that it is becoming quite rigid for us due to her A length being quite inflexible. She won't sleep anywhere other than her cot and so I am a bit stuck in the house. Other people have posted that they accept short naps in the pram etc occacionally but if she wakes early from a nap she is upset and won't wait at all for E time even if over an hour away.

3She seems to need a lot of sleep (18+ hours). Should I be letting her sleep longer at the catnap time if she wants to or will she get too much 'day time' sleep?

Any advice much appreciated! I'm sure a lot of this is unnecessary worry and just me over thinking!

Thanks
Ruth

[NicolleD]

It sounds like you have a great sleeper and to me it doesn't sound 'broken' so I'd say stick with it! Her A times seem fairly average for a 9 week old, perhaps a little on the short side but some babies just have higher sleep needs. I would wake her to feed though. Don't worry she will extend her A times fairly quickly, I'd just enjoy the time you are getting for yourself at the moment! It's up to you if you start the day at 6 - if she won't go down again then yes you will have to - ideally you are aiming for a 12/12 day/night but if you are worried about slipping earlier and earlier you can always leave her napping for just an extra 10 mins per nap and a slightly longer catnap to extend the day a little.
With the feeding I know that my DD needs a bit of wake up time before a feed, so I let her because otherwise we end up snacking through the day. As long as you are not feeding to sleep it shouldn't become a problem.
My DD is the same and will only sleep in her cot, although I do have a lie flat pram and sometimes I will put her down in that in her room, wait for her to be asleep, cover it will a dark blanket and then I can go out! It's quite frustrating but as her A times increase you will be able to do more out and about when she is awake.
Hope that helps,
Nicolle

[newmummy82]

Thanks Nicolle,
As if by magic, after you posted she has started to do 1 hr 15-20 As instead of 1 hr-1hr 5! Also left her for a bit after waking this am before feeding and she took a better feed so your tip paid off!
Have ordered a snoozeshade to go over the pram/carseat so we can have blackout on the move so hopefully she will like it.
Just starting to realise that every time she gets into a nice predictable pattern- a week later it all changes- keeping me on my toes!
thanks again
Ruth