How can I help my baby wind down??

[Loujo]

Hi!
Have just started the EASY routine with my 5 week old - haven't got the book yet but it is on order!  So I have taken snippets from this website to roughly teach me how to do it until the book arrives.  I would really like help on what Thomas' bedtime routine should be.  We don't bathe him more than twice a week at the mo as he has dry skin, so haven't really got anything that he would recognise as meaning 'sleep'.  He cluster feeds for about 3 hours from 4.30pm - 7.30pm and we take him upstairs to do the last feed at 7.30pm.  We then change his nappy and then the struggle begins.  He is shattered - kicking his legs (which we used to mistake for wind), red in the face, crying and although I know he's not hungry he keeps going for the breast all the time as a comfort thing.  Last night it took only 20 mins for him to settle but the night before we were walking him up and down until 10pm! Should we be taking him up to his crib earlier?  We always keep the lighting in the bedroom low and don't have the tv on.  Help anyone?
Thank you!
Louise
xxx

[HeatherC]

Well, having a calm, dim environment is a great start.  Even starting now with simple phrases such as "it's bedtime, time for night-night, good night sweet boy" can help create a mental shift toward night sleep.  Is it possible that he needs a slightly earlier bedtime?  What is the rest of his day like?