Help With Starting EASY/Shush/Pat-3 wk old

[ChicStylishMom]

My DS was born on 10/11 at 6.15 (1 oz away from 7 lbs!!)I havent had any particular routine going with him besides feeding him every 3 hrs and when he was wide awake after a feed I would talk to him or put him in his bouncer or swing. He would fall asleep in there to which now I know is not the best thing you dont want to use these items as props. My q is how do I start this routine i did order the book but of course with a newborn it will be hard to read it as quickly as I would like. So if someone can give me a routine and some tips/direction it would be appreciated. I have a few q about shush/pat...is this done throughout the whole day as well ? Do you do it only if they start acting fussy once in their bassinet/crib? How long should i be doing it ? I would normally change before a feeding but now am i changing after his feeding? Do i do the shush/pat until hes out of REM? My little one doesnt have issues going into his bassinet but he wakes before he should. His belly button stump fell off days ago so I can start giving warm baths..when do u suggest I do that- at night?

[~Sara~]

Hi and welcome!   To answer your questions:

My q is how do I start this routine i did order the book but of course with a newborn it will be hard to read it as quickly as I would like. So if someone can give me a routine and some tips/direction it would be appreciated.

Here are some links that I think will help you:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=186622.0
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164027.0

Your DS is also very, very young, so please understand that it might take him a while to get on a predictable routine and/or be an independent sleeper.  We didn't start BW with my DS until he was about 7 weeks old, but he took to it like a champ...give both of you some time, okay?

I have a few q about shush/pat...is this done throughout the whole day as well?

You can use shh/pat anytime he is going to sleep.  Here's some more info about that:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=26672.0

You can lay him down in his crib and leave him to self-settle if he's not crying, yes.  But many babies need to be taught how to go to sleep, so shh/pat can really help them from getting overtired and missing their sleep window.  Start out doing it until he's asleep.  Then over the course of the next few weeks, you'll lessen that time until you're eventually just laying him down and he does the rest.

I would normally change before a feeding but now am i changing after his feeding?

I don't think this matters.  Just change him if he needs it, whenever that might be.

His belly button stump fell off days ago so I can start giving warm baths..when do u suggest I do that- at night?

Some LOs get baths at night, yes.  For others, it's too stimulating at the end of the day (this is how it was for my DS).  If the latter is the case for you, consider doing bathtime in the morning or afternoon.

Give all of that a read through and let me know what other questions you have.

[ChicStylishMom]

First day of EASY went well with my 3 w/o on Friday night we did a DF at 10 he slept until 243 am fed again and he slept until 6AM..but yesterday was horrible with the sleep..he would wake in about 1/2 hr to an hour after feeding he has been farting lots and they stink! He hadnt gone from Wednesday until friday night...and sure enough we had a good sleeping night. Im wondering if its the gas thats waking him not him not knowing how to sleep. Hes been on this formula for 1 wk now prior to that i was BF but needed to stop. Also most of the schedules I see start at 7 as awake but with our schedule hes awake at 6 those samples are for guidelines only right? I still am doing feedings during the day at every 3 hrs..trying to get him to nap for atleast 1-2 hrs in between.  My other q is during daytime naps in between feeds how long after a feed do I lay him down his feeding only takes 15-20 min(bottle) and can i use a white noise machine all the time or will that become a prop and only use it if he starts to cry when I do the shush pat? Im a little confused on how to" settle him " down after the feed do i hold him and wait until Is ee sleepy cues or do i put him in the crib within some minutes after feeding and what steps to do when hes in the crib. Do i start shush/pat right away or use the white noise machine...or do I only do that if he starts to cry? Last night he didnt sleep through the night at all..he would wake before his next feed and not be hungry but uncomfortable again i think gas related..I soothed him to fall back asleep then i set my alarm for his next feed which was no later than 4 hrs after the last since the pediatrician said under 1 mnth atleast 4 hrs in the night between feeds. Is that ok for when their awaking on their own? My last q is at 6 am I still want him groggy so I can nap until his next feed at 9. How do you suggest i handle this feeding? At 6 am is when i would go back on his 3 hr easy schedule right?

[ZacsMumme]

First of all welcome to BW
Secondly, your LO is very young still, I would say too young to be on a real EASY, sure using EASY as a pattern and as a guide on how you want to continue but remember your LO is only 3 weeks old, getting used to being out in the big wide world and getting into his own little pattern. I would go with the flow to some extent, and try to have EASY in the back of your mind when feeding/A times etc. Things can be quite erratic in those first 6 weeks!!!! White noise, shh/patting and cuddles are all good to help him sleep at this age. Cuddles/rocking can become a prop, but not this early on I don't believe.

Your LO could well be suffering from a bit of gas, did this start when you put him onto formula? As nutrition for your LO it is different to breast milk in that it takes longer to digest etc. You may find your LOs tum is getting used to digesting the different food. Do you feel the gas is upsetting your LO?

I am going to ask if someone can take a look at your BF schedule being 4hrs + through the night. This seems too long for a 3/4 week old.

My last q is at 6 am I still want him groggy so I can nap until his next feed at 9. How do you suggest i handle this feeding?

IM sorry I dont follow you here? What do you mean by groggy? TBH a lot of LOs are up for the day between 5.30-7 at this age esp if they are down for the night at 7ish.

[~Sara~]

Hi hon...I merged these two topics so that we can keep your advice on one thread.  Let us know how you're doing, and please do take a look through the links posted.

Also, remember that your LO is very little and it might take a while to get a consistent routine.  We started BW at 7 weeks and it took us--mainly me--a while before I really got the hang on EASY.  *hugs*