Nap & feeding issues

[AngelFarrell]

have just started my 9 week old boy on EASY (now on day 5). He has thrived since birth - weighed 8.8lbs at birth (natural, homebirth) and at 9 weeks is now 14lbs, and I am exclusively breast feeding. With the routine, he has taken to extremely short feeds - usually between 5-10 mins. I use to demand feed, and it seemed like he was always feeding. But now I am sticking to the 3 hour spaces. Started EASY to try to extend his day naps - yes I am another battler of the 45min demon! He goes down easily, but come 40-45mins and he's awake. Have broken my resolve and started using a dummy at this stage. But I have to stay with him and also Shush/Pat on and off for the next 45mins, during which he dozes on and off. I have a few questtions: 1. How long does it usually take for a little one to begin self-sooth back to sleep after the first 45 min and continue nap without me needing to be there? 2. What do I do with him for the rest of his One & half hours of wake time, since his feeding never takes longer than 10 mins? I dont want to over-stimulate him.
3. Could the dummy be interfering with his feeding, since he only feeds for such short spaces. He hasn't pooped properly for 3 days now, usually went 3-4 bigs ones everyday.  He goes to bed around 8-8:30pm and his first wake up can be anywhere from 12:30am - 3am. Has been earlier since starting EASY. e.g last night he was difficult to put down, started wind down routine about 7:45pm, and he didnt drop off properly till 8:20pm. Then woke at 12:30am, I fed (10 mins) and he went straight back to sleep. Woke again at 3:45am. Changed his really wet nappy and fed (between 5-10mins). Straight back to sleep. Woke again at 6:30am. Really short feed (5 mins) playtime. Started looking tired about 7:40, so did wind down, was asleep in his bassinet at 7:50am. I will go in to him in about 40 mins when he normally starts to wake, and use dummy and Shush/Pat to keep him in bed for another 45mins. In this way we are able to stick pretty close to the 3 hour routine. It's HARD!!! I just hope it helps him to learn to do it himself, but this is better than the alternative of him only staying down for 45mins and then being grumpy, tired and constantly fussing at my breast. Advice and encouragement would be much appreciated.

[Matthew's Mommy]

With a newborn/young infant, the EASY routine looks more like Awake and Sleep. The Eating and the Activity are together (since eating is an activity!)  He may be an efficent eater-- if he's gaining weight and seems content then sounds like all is well. 

The 45 min. cat napping is normal for a newborn/young infant.  From my experience, what I have noticed is that newborns/young infants will either sleep long for naps, or short for naps, but generally after 6 months of age, they shift to a morning and afternoon nap (1.5-2 hours each). What many newborns/young infants will do is take do a 45 min. nap, wake up and then within 10 mins or so, be ready for another nap of 45. Don't fret or worry if this is what your little one is doing, completely normal-- you can either do keep patting until he returns to sleep, or do a quiet activity, and then wind down back to sleep. Swaddling is very important.

Sounds like you are doing everything right, EASY cycle is good. Self soothing begins after 3 months, and is learning process.

Hope this helps!