Author Topic: How long is Activity Time?  (Read 1500 times)

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Offline tisdallmcphee

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How long is Activity Time?
« on: April 30, 2006, 07:04:35 am »
Hi,

I'm a new mom.  Baby Aisha is just two weeks old.  We have started the EASY plan and are doing well, but I am confused about how long activity time should be.  She currently feeds every 3 hours.  Sometimes she falls asleep immediately after feeding (like today, I couldn't keep her awake for any activity), but other times she is wide awake after feeding and I have trouble getting her to take a nap before her next feed.  When this happens she gets overtired and is a little cranky.  At this age, what is a realistic amount of time to spend on the activity.  Are you able to get a baby of this time to Eat have an Activity and Sleep in that order everytime.  Any tips for this?

Thanks! 

Offline LŠuren

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Re: How long is Activity Time?
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2006, 08:09:05 am »
Hi Congratulations and welcome to the boards

Don't expect too much from your LO at this age - 'A' time this young is generally enough time after the feed for a change of nappy, clothes & wash etc. DS's 'A' time at this age was 30mins, however he is an angel baby and all babies temperaments are different - do you know your babies temperament? If not, it is usefull to know, the quiz is here https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=52283.0

If she is not sleeping every nap cycle she will get tired, it may be up to you to instigate the nap process - however remember to wake her at her next E cycle.

I was able to do EAS at this stage, you might find that you also do ESA for a while - the key is NOT to let your LO fall asleep during her feed, wake her, change her nappy then put in bed awake - this is the foundation for teaching them to sleep independent and not use a prop - bottle/breast.

I have given you some links that may be useful? Have you read any of the books? Do you keep a log, if not you can download one here: https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=6208.0

links
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=10384.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=18728.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=59375.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=59379.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=59156.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=58867.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=10409.0

Hth's - shout if you need more help  ;)
Lauren x


Offline tisdallmcphee

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Re: How long is Activity Time?
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2006, 00:09:14 am »
Hi,

Thanks so much for all the information.  Sorry it has taken me so long to respond.  I couldn't get my login to work properly, but it is all sorted out now.

I have read Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, but I haven't read any other books by Tracy.  Are there other ones that you recommend? 

Aisha is a textbook baby, as far as I can tell right now only being 2 weeks and 3 days old.  I took your advice and put her down for a nap about 40 minutes into activity time.  I am getting better at watching for the cues and brought her up for her nap after her first yawn.  It is really hard to catch as she is so bright-eyed, and if I hadn't seen the yawn, I would never have known that she was tired.  It took me about 20 minutes to get her down.  I rocked her until her eyes were heavy, then put her in her crib.  She fussed a bit and I just rubbed her belly off and on until she fell asleep.  I also put on a 'womb' machine.  At night she goes down very well and doesn't fuss, it is only in the morning that I have trouble getting her to nap. She seems so awake.  Before I corresponded with you, she would be awake from 8am until 2pm, but would get fussy because I would  miss her cues and think she wasn't tired...then she would get overtired. I feel like I am on the right track now with your advice.  How does it sound to you? Any other tips or suggestions.

Also, I am wondering about swaddling.  I had planned to swaddle her, but she already uses her hand (sometimes) to self-soothe.  She usually sucks on her hand at night until I hear her and get up to feed her.  I swaddled her one night and she woke up 1 1/2 hours later frantic.  She screamed for 5 minutes before I removed the swaddle and then she was fine.  Should I keep trying, or is it possible that Aisha doesn't need a swaddle?

Right now she is feeding every 3 hours, but if she is sleeping or we are out she sometimes goes 4.  Should I wake her at the 3 hour mark to feed her?

Finally, her night time pattern is to EAt around 5, Activity = bath and massage at 6pm, EAT = top up at 6:30 and SLEEP at 7pm . She usually wakes at 9:30pm, 12:30am, 3:30am and 7am.  We tried to dream feed her at 9:30, but she still woke at 12:30am...should our dream feed be later?  We noticed that most dream feeds are around10-11 pm.  Does that mean we feed her at 9:30 pm and then dream feed her at 11pm ( 1 1/2 hours later)?

Thanks again!  I am so happy to have found this forum and to know that I am not alone.

Offline LŠuren

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Re: How long is Activity Time?
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2006, 06:38:23 am »
I think the best book is the 2nd one "TBW - solves all your problems", however it only make sense after reading the 1st one to get an overview of EASY - IYKWIM  ;)

You will need you eliminate the rocking stage at some point and change it to sitting quietly (see 4 S's windown).

If she is sleeping without the swaddle and gets wound up with one on then I personally would leave it out.

Finally, her night time pattern is to EAt around 5, Activity = bath and massage at 6pm, EAT = top up at 6:30 and SLEEP at 7pm . She usually wakes at 9:30pm, 12:30am, 3:30am and 7am.  We tried to dream feed her at 9:30, but she still woke at 12:30am...should our dream feed be later?  We noticed that most dream feeds are around10-11 pm.  Does that mean we feed her at 9:30 pm and then dream feed her at 11pm ( 1 1/2 hours later)?


How long have you done the DF, it take about a week for any improvements to show. DF should be done between 10 -11, I have added this link for you https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=54662.0 for more info on cluster and dreamfeeding.

You sound like you are doing fantastic for only a few days and starting to read your LO cues already  ;)

Hope to see you around the boards soon.  ;D

Lauren x