oh, i feel for you! we started the EASY method when my son was 4 1/2 - 5 months, and i just remember thinking that i should have started earlier because i was convinced it would have been easier to get things "right". Plus, many of the moms using the site had babies who were much younger so it was hard to find advice. However, i'm now glad that we waited until he was as old as he was because i got to do everything i wanted, even if it was "accidental parenting" - which i don't think it was.
it took a good 6-8 weeks before i noticed that my son was starting to go down easier for naps and bedtime. it was a constant struggle, and there were many days i just cried and wanted to give up. except i knew i had to change the way we were going because i was completely exhausted. it also took me about an hour or so to get my son to sleep, and most of that time was him screaming as i picked him up and put him down again. he is very feisty, which i love (now!)
as far as your questions go, these are just my thoughts.
i'm guessing he's rubbing his eyes so soon after waking up because he's not napping long enough. that may change as he starts to get the hang of a routine and sets his own rhythm.
as far as the shsh/pat, i'm not sure it worked for my son. there's a FAQ section in the pick up/put down forum (i think it's there) that might answer some of those questions. i did a lot of pick up put down stuff, especially as he would roll over onto his belly, but then get stuck there (and really freak out. thank goodness he outgrew that in a few weeks). for my own sanity, i would just talk out loud and tell him that i was having difficulty too, or whatever else was going on for me at the time. it actually helped to reduce to irritation of him screaming in my ear every night! plus he couldn't hear what i was saying anyway!
however, now that he's older, i notice that me putting my cheek next to his and saying "it's okay" when he's lying down really soothes him. i rarely need to pick him up any more. actually i think it just annoys him now.
you could try swaddling, but he may be too old now and just get frustrated.
when i started the whole EASY routine, i went full on, trying to do the whole thing at once. i soon realized that i was beginning to resent my son because it wasn't working like it said in the book. i then allowed myself to take smaller steps and it was way less stressful.
i began by just watching his tired cues (which took me forever to learn) and then would put him down. it also felt like i spent most of the time in the bedroom.
i made up my own little ritual of saying goodnight to the pictures in the room for naps and bedtime (and of course this initially got him screaming because he knew sleep was coming).
And rather than trying to get him to sleep through the night, i fed him whenever he woke up, since he was still used to it. it was enough that he was now sleeping in a crib rather than beside me. i did that for one month, and then over a five day period, got him sleeping through the night.
i also find that it's easier if it's either me or my husband doing the shift because my son will get worked up if there's a change in the person coming in to sooth him, and it's like starting over.
my son is only awake for two hour stretches at a time, and he's now 7 months, so i wouldn't worry about yours only being awake for 1 1/2 hours at a time.
i also don't completely follow the EASY steps exactly, and often feed him before naps and bedtime. this may set up some habits down the road, but like i said, i'd rather do it in baby steps, and enjoy him more, than get frustrated.
you may also find it's a bit more challenging starting this late because of milestones that start coming up. at least i did. it's sometimes difficult to know if he's in pain from teething, or has gas from new solids, etc....
just be patient with yourself. it will happen!
hope this helps you out a bit.
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