Do I make him nap to keep to EASY even if not tired?

[annam]

Have been on EASY for 6 days, mostly going well except for nights, but that is another issue.  Lo is 13 wks, ebf, 9lbs8oz at birth and continues to be big for age. Never a very good sleeper. Anyway, I have been keeping to EASY timings and sometimes he goes down for his nap within 10-15mins of sh/pat, sometimes it is longer.  However, when I go to put him down and begin our sleep ritual he is either - already crying, cries as soon as I swaddle, or he thinks it is play time in his cot.  When he is all playful (like now) should I sh/pat or walk out and see if he sends himself to sleep?  I know that as soon as I turn him on his side and begin sh/pat he will begin to cry.  Lo never seems to have a stage when he is sleepy before during or after the ritual, despite keeping to the four s's.  (I have left him now after ritual for 15mins and can still hear him gurgling and talking to himself and the ceiling! I also peeked in and he has come out of his swaddle, which is the norm!)  I do look for his sleep cues, sometimes it is obvious and I get there in time but he still cries and fights etc but sometimes there are no cues and he just doesn't seem to be tired, so do I continue to stick rigidly to EASY timings whilst I am trying to teach him to sleep and nap and have a routine?  Sorry this seems very long-winded, my brain is tired!

[Jaime]

hi,

it is hard, isn't it?  i think a babies' first goal is to drive mama crazy by changing everything all the time!   

the thing to keep in mind is that EASY is a sequence of events.  this little, watching the clock will probably cause more confusion.  as you said, some days he's just not ready for a nap yet.

now, when he's crying, i think you probably missed his sleep window & he's overtired, which is why it's harder to put him to bed.  if he does that reliably at a certain time everyday, i'd try and get him into bed about 15 minutes sooner to see if that helps.

when he's just playing... i'd leave him to it & see if he'll just drift off.  he may surprise you.  shh/pat is mostly meant to be used when they're already crying.  if he happy, i'd leave him be.

HTH 

[annam]

He has drifted off by himself twice now. :DI am shocked stunned and amazed!  My insomniac bambino is learning how to nap!  Now need to tackle our sleep deprived nights!  He wakes once or twice and I feed him, sometimes he needs it sometimes not and I am no good in the wee hours.  Hw only feeds for about 10 mins for his dream feed and I cannot gt him to take more without waking him.  Last night he actually tucked his bottom lip away so I couldn't get to it to try and make him root!  Crafty little boy!