Right Now A.E.S.Y.... How to switch to E.A.S.Y.?

[marleyfloydbabe]

So the Baby Whisperer book says that I should feed her when she wakes up.  The problem is that she won't take the breast at that time.  In fact, she's a VERY spirited baby and only seems to want the breast when it's her idea. 

I tried holding her standing up and coaxing her to the boob.  I even tried sticking her face to my boob, hoping she'd finally just take it.  It just infuriates her  :x and she started getting anxious EVERY time I gave her the breast, so I'm at my wits end!  :shock:

I've been trying to get her to sleep without the breast and I've managed that, but it seems to be the only time she'll take it and I want her to get her nutrition.   :roll: The only time she'll eat when she wakes up is if I mix breast milk with rice cereal and feed it to her by spoon. 

How do I get her to eat when she wakes up rather than right before she goes to sleep :?:  Nothing's working, and I'm about ready to go back to what was working before... HELP!!! :!:

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

How old is your lo?  Although Tracy's book says to eat once they wake up, as long as you're not feeding to sleep (and it sounds like you've licked that ), then you're on the right track.  Some babies get very distractible (mine did!  :roll: ) and it helps to get to them right on wake up - in the dark, quiet room when they're still sleepy.  I still have to do that - otherwise, she can go 6, 7 hrs during the day without asking sometimes! How often are you feeding too? Does she get a chance to get hungry?  Try not to stress about it!  Routine is great, but Tracy never meant for it to be TOO strict!  You have to find a compromise that works for both of you. HTH!

[annamum]

When I was switching to EASY at 2.5 months, my dd refused my breast at night because she used to be nursed to sleep. From 6 pm she wouldn't take it if it was before her bath, she knew that if she nurses before a bath she will have to go to sleep without nursing. Honestly, I didn't like this self-inflicted nursing strike and I returned to offer her breast before sleep. From there things returned to normal. My advice is not very BW but she was also a spirited baby and I decided to do what worked for us at that time. I thought that nursing was more important then than teaching her to sleep on her own and decided to wait till later.

[mthyne]

I understand completely!  I try to follow EASY--do my best, but the fact is, some babies like to be nursed to sleep!  My 4 1/2 year old was nursed before bed at night for 13 months.  But the day I weaned her, we never had a problem.  I'm hoping we have the same luck with our 2nd (now 5 1/2 weeks). When your baby gets a bit older, try a sippy cup of breast milk and then a pacifier before bed, being put down by someone else besides you.  It worked for us the first time