Putting 4mth old on E.A.S.Y - Problems

[FlyFisher]

Hi,
I've just started about 4 days ago with getting my baby on E.A.S.Y. So far I am happy with the results, but I have found that these were/are my issues:

- Baby is a snacker... I accidentally parented him into eating every 2 hours
- Baby wouldn't go to sleep unless nursed - another parenting oops.
- Baby is a 45-50 minute napper.... not sure about this one.

Before starting E.A.S.Y, I was loosing following a routine where he would wake at 7 AM I would feed him, play with him until 8:45, then feed him to get him to go to sleep, this would repeat every two hours..... (hence the snacking bit)... he WAS sleeping for longer stretches then, recently stopped falling asleep while nursing (so I would have to rock or giggle, etc.) Then came the 45 mins type naps..... When I started E.A.S.Y. I thought I could do the 4 hour since I was sort of doing it before, but then I thought that baby was getting too hungry so I thought I would try to get the 3 hour one established then increase to 4..... BUT since then I am having these troubles:
- Baby still doesn't take in a lot at the feeds, and doesn't seem to be too hungry at other times (feeds only 10 to 15 minutes even with burp and both breasts offered, sometimes multiple times).

So today while thinking about it, I thought MAYBE is IS ready for the 4 hour routine and the A part is not long enough for him to be sleepy enough? After this morning's nap he went down fine and woke up 50 mins later, happy. I left him in there until 10 AM feeding. But then I kept him up until 11:30 like the schedule, so I think maybe he got overtired, then wouldn't sleep longer than 45 mins... plus had gas.... I also tried the sleep to wake thing a little today.... it worked yesterday for the 2:30 nap and we got him to sleep until 4 but then had to wake him..... but today it didn't work....

Should I try to get him on the 4 hour E.A.S.Y?
Should I wait and see before trying sleep to wake or keep that up while trying to move to 4 hour E.A.S.Y?

Thanks.....

[lyndsy_p]

Hey....congrats for starting EASY.....I know it's hard right now, but soon you'll reap the rewards of a baby on a routine
I'm not a mod, but I will try to help a little.....

 

But then I kept him up until 11:30 like the schedule, so I think maybe he got overtired, then wouldn't sleep longer than 45 mins... plus had gas.... I also tried the sleep to wake thing a little today.... it worked yesterday for the 2:30 nap and we got him to sleep until 4 but then had to wake him..... but today it didn't work....

Should I try to get him on the 4 hour E.A.S.Y?
Should I wait and see before trying sleep to wake or keep that up while trying to move to 4 hour E.A.S.Y?

Go slow!!! It will take quite a few days for your LO to respond to this new routine...he's been used to no routine for 4 months now. In regards to the eating...it could be that teething is making it uncomfortable to eat, or he is just getting efficient. Stay the course....start with 3.5hrs if you think he can't go 4 and gradually increase to 4hr EASY. It sounds to me that his A times are not enough to be a true 4hr EASY yet...which is very common. Start with the morning slot and increase A times gradually over a few days. My LO is doing 4hr for the 1st feed and 3.5hrs for the rest. Your day may look like EASA, EASA if the naps aren't long enough. Keep in mind he should be sleeping around 5hrs total for daytime sleep..no matter the pattern, sometimes a long nap in the AM, sometimes it'll be in the afternoon.

Just this week my LO is doing a 2hr nap for the 2nd nap of the day. You will find that when you try to increase A times in the morning he might be OT (overtired), so that 1st nap may be short. If he is happy to play in his crib for a while that's okay(not crying), otherwise do LOW KEY activity until the next feed. Another reason for 40 min naps is because the A time is not enough. It is such a fine line....I watch my LO like a hawk for 30 mins before I think she'll be ready to go down. Also start the winddown 15mins before you want him to go to sleep...

HTH
Lyndsy

[FlyFisher]

Thank you Lyndsy.... This morning, my LO was up at 7 AM but I think he was awake before that... maybe 10-15 mins.... I fed him. He did better... maybe 20 minutes (both breasts)... then we had A time.. He was happy when he woke up but started yawning about 7:45.... but still seems up and at 'em... I watched him..... gradually toward 8:15, he seemed to slow down and his eyes "looked" tired.... I started winding down..... I rocked him in the living room for about 15 mins.... and sang/hummed to him (he was very calm during this). Then I brought him upstairs to my office (where there is a couch and stuff) and I read him a very short book (he started to get a little fidgety). Then I brought him into his room, swaddled his legs (he won't sleep with the arms swaddled and I don't want to re-introduce this since he has been happily sleeping without it for about 1 month)... then I started the "sitting part"... and although he wasn't very fidgety, I did very light shh/pat. His body DID start to relax and he WAS getting more relaxed, but I don't think I did it long enough. I put him down and I think that upset his going into sleep... anyway, he babbled to himself after I left the room for about 15 mins before falling off into sleep...... Hopefully that helps!!!

[Grace's Mom]

Fly Fisher 

For your questions about rocking to sleep, etc. I would definitely visit the PROPS thread.  They will have some great advice over there for you.  Here is the link.
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=28.0

45 minute naps usually mean your lo is in need of more A time.  I would, like Lyndsy suggested, take things slowly.  With any new change, it takes at least 3-5 days for a babies system to adjust.  With in those days things may not be perfect and that's ok/normal...just be consistant with what ever you do and things should even out.

Always keep in mind that EASY is a routine and not a schedule....a sequence of events that takes place through out the day.  Feeds do not have to happen at the exact time every day, they might happen at the same time but it's not a strict rule, you know.  Same as naps.  Some can handle a bit more A time at different times thought out the day.  That's the great thing about EASY....it's really flexible.  BW is all about respect your lo's needs while not letting them take over    I think you are doing a wonderful job.  Please feel free to ask away....there are some amazing mom's on here all willing to help out. 

Have you found your birth club yet? 

Here are some links to help you on your new journey.

Some EASY FAQ's

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63161.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=84884.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=69369.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=97133.0

For any questions you may have about sleep training, etc. please be sure to visit our SLEEP threads...NAPS, NIGHTWAKINGS and GENERAL SLEEP.  They are wonderful over there.

Melissa

[FlyFisher]

Melissa, Thanks for your input! I will try tomorrow with increasing the A time and see what that brings.

What is the birth club? I haven't found mine yet, but haven't spent a lot of time looking since most of my time is dedicated to LO!

Night times are also an issue for me .... it takes a while for him to settle... for whatever reason, he fusses, and fusses, and sometimes cries and we have to shhh him and soothe him (in the crib) for an extended period before he'll go to sleep on his one. The PU/PD thing seems to agitate him... as does the Shh/pat at night... so we've found that just soothing him from the crib side and shhing him that way seems to work... could he be overtired from being up 3 or 4 hours since the last nap?

His night sleep is actually pretty good... he usually wakes only once and it's random... sometimes 2:30/3:00 am sometimes 5 AM and sometimes he sleeps right through. I haven't done any dreamfeeds yet as I am not sure I want to introduce that since his nights really aren't that bad.....

The naps today stayed consistent at 45 mins, despite a 2 hour A period... bedtime was earlier at 6:15 (he'd been awake since 3:10) and he had a hard time settling in... but once there at about 7:15 he has been asleep since.... (it's 8:55 PM now.)

Seems confusing trying to sort this all out.... I will start with his A time tomorrow and see what happens... he yawns a lot though and I am not sure if I should act on the very first yawn or wait for other signs, etc....

[FlyFisher]

Just an update.... the 45 min nap seems to be due to over stimulation. Once I reduced the amount of toys and colour, he was sleeping again without intervention. Let's hope it lasts!

[lyndsy_p]