Is sleep training for you? Some parents say you must let your child determine when and where they are going to sleep, perhaps they are afraid of becoming regimented to the point that they are no longer in tune with their baby’s unique needs.
To these parents, I say rest easy. The techniques that makeup E.A.S.Y. are meant to be tailored to your child.
For myself, I had a least one child that didn’t give me easy to read cues. I tried to let her tell me when she wanted food, interaction, sleep, a diaper change…it was like trying to read a Chinese instruction manual without the diagrams. Impossible! The E.A.S.Y. technique let me parent her in a more conscious manner.
E.A.S.Y. is not necessarily easy, but it works. It is a routine, a repetition of natural cycles related to each letter that occurs throughout the day.
E represents EAT. All babies need to eat either liquid thru nursing or bottle-feeding or solids starting at 6 months. They are less likely to be either underfed or overfed on a routine.
A represents ACTIVITY. This can usually be baby-led. A structure though can prevent overstimulation.
S represents SLEEP. Sleep is mandatory. Daytime sleep in the form of naps helps improve nighttime sleep. Good naps as a result of the proper amount of food and activity are more likely with a routine.
Y represents YOUR Time. With less unpredictably and more structure, you’ll have more time for yourself to rest, shower, clean, what have you. With my third child, many times this became nap time/snuggle time with my baby.
The schedule I’ve provided is adapted from The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior–Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood
by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau.
I highly recommend reading the book in its entirety!
Be aware the routinewill adjust as your child grows. And it may even vary somewhat from what’s presented here based on weight and personality.
However, since most babies hit certain milestones at certain ages, this schedule is on target for Day 4 to Week 6. If you feel your baby is not developmentally ready to go to this schedule, try utilizing the same principles with a 2.5-hour routine.
This is part of a series. As your child grows, be sure to adjust their schedule accordingly.
E.A.S.Y. WEEK 6 TO MONTH 4
E.A.S.Y. MONTH 4 TO MONTH 6
E.A.S.Y. MONTH 6 TO MONTH 9
E.A.S.Y. MONTH 9 TO MONTH 12
NEWBORN E.A.S.Y: DAY 4 TO WEEK 6
Below is a synopsis of the schedule broken into 3 segments. Click on each heading for detailed information. Scroll to the end of the article for an opportunity to get access to a free printable for easy reference.
Morning E.A.S.Y. Schedule
7:00 AM (E)at Feed 2-5 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
7:45 (A)ctivity Limited Activity (i.e. changing diaper, talking)
8:15 (S)leep Nap (1:30) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
(Y)our Personal Time
10:00 AM E Feed 2-5 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
10:45 A Activity
11:15 S Nap (1:30) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
Y
Afternoon E.A.S.Y. Schedule
1:00 PM E Feed 2-5 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
1:45 A Activity
2:15 S Nap (1:30) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
Y
4:00 PM E Feed 2-5 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
4:45 A Activity
5:15 S Catnap (45 min)
Y
Evening E.A.S.Y. Schedule
6:00 PM E 1ST TANK UP (Cluster Feed)
7:00 A Bath & Bedtime Ritual
7:30 S Catnap (30 min)
8:00 PM E / S 2ND TANK UP (Cluster Feed) / Back to bed for night
Between 10-11 PM E / S Dream Feed – NO WAKE – activate sucking reflex
Between 2-4 AM E / S Night Feed – BACK TO BED TILL 7 AM
Below is the time variation for tanking up your little one. Click on the heading for detailed information.
Evening Time Variation Chart
5:00 PM E 1ST TANK UP (Cluster Feed)
6:00 A Bath & Bedtime Ritual
6:30 S Catnap (30 min)
7:00 E / S 2ND TANK UP (Cluster Feed) / Back to bed for night.m
After the 2nd Tank Up / Cluster Feed, you’ll return to the original chart for the remainder of the evening.
Below is the Food and Sleep Totals for each day. Click on the heading for detailed information
Daily Food & Sleep Totals
Food Intake:7-8 feeds per day for 18-24 OZ. typical. If nursing=approximately 45 minutes per feed
Day Sleep:6 hours on average *based on age & activity level influences
Night Sleep:5-hour stretches on average *based on body weight influences
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