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Dec 02

E.A.S.Y. for 4-9 Months

I recently blogged about the Baby Whisperer’s E.A.S.Y. baby plan as one option to get your LO on a reasonable routine. This “schedule” works well for babies under 4 months of age.

However, by 4 months, babies are gradually able to transition into longer wake/activity periods, as well as eat less frequently – around every 4 hours. Eventually, by getting baby used to eating every 4 hours, you’re also setting her up for an easier transition to sleep through the night.

Noob Baby, also known as Her Chunkiness, didn’t exactly appreciate a sudden transition into eating every 4 hours vs. every 3. Silly me. I forgot to reveal my plans to her. So, we called together a G4 type summit, and came to an agreement.

We would slowly drag out the time between her feedings each day (tacking on a few extra minutes). After she *dinged* the big 4 (months that is), we began the transition. 3 hours became 3 hrs. 10 min. Then 3 1/4 hrs. 3 1/2 hrs. etc.

At last, she was eating approx. every 4 hours (give or take a few days where I assume she was going through a growth spurt). Her E.A.S.Y. routine looked similar to this example from Secrets of the Baby Whisperer:

4-Hour E.A.S.Y.

E – 7:00 – Wake up and feed
A – 7:30
S – 9:00 (1 1/2-2 hr nap)
Y – Blog Time (I mean … your time!)

E – 11:00
A – 11:30
S – 1:00 (1 1/2-2 hrs)
Y – Party (I mean … take a shower and get out of jammies!)

E – 3:00
A – 3:30
S – Catnap between 5 -6 pm
Y – Really, peel yourself off the computer now so Noob Daddy doesn’t think you’ve been web surfing all day!

E – 7:00 (cluster feed at 7 and 9 pm if going through a growth spurt)
A – Bath
S – 7:30 Bedtime
Y – Chest bump Noob Daddy. Then, catch up on Google Reader, CNN, Facebook, Twitter and a little thing called WoW

E – 11:00 Dream Feed (until 7 or 8 months, or whenever solids are firmly established)

As for us, the Dream Feed never really worked. Noob Baby seemed to wake up at least once at night despite our efforts to pull a fast one on her. Luckily, that changed with our sleep training efforts.

A Ferber follow up post to come soon!

17 delicious comments

Posted in Baby Schedule, Baby Whisperer, E.A.S.Y.

Nov 21

We Survived Night 1 of CIO

Last night, we finally bit the bullet and started to Ferberize Noob Baby. For more about this technique, check out my blog post. NB has been waking up really erratically lately, and most of all, we still have to rock her to bed and for naptime, every single day!

As much as this sleep training is going to benefit her (allowing her to soothe herself), it’s also a self-preservation thing. Gotta say, Mommy and Daddy walking around all hunchbacked isn’t exactly the key ingredient for nooby siblings… am I right?

Though I passed on the Bacardi 151, I did, however, curl up into a ball and curse Ferber repeatedly. Luckily, I was able to turn to my lovely noob mommy friends for support! Shout out to my teachers! Holla!

Make sure you have some serious distractions before you start this, because baby will be crying – A LOT and LOUD! It sucks royally, and you feel like a miserable hobo-of-a-parent.

Oh yeah, if you’re wondering where Noob Daddy was in all this… apparently, he has already mastered the skill of tuning out wife and crying baby… yes, that same skill grumpy old grandpas brag about.

So, to sum up… I went in at 3 minutes, 5 mins., 7 mins., 10 mins., and then by God’s mercy, she started to settle down. Each time I went in, I simply reassured her (or mostly myself) that I was not a degenerate parent. Unfortunately, my pathetic apologies were drowned out by her wailing.

In total, Noob Baby cried for 31 minutes, and then FELL ASLEEP ON HER OWN! There was no rocking, bouncing, patting, swaying, swinging, breakdancing, or running man. She did it on her own! And this morning, she even woke up cooing and had a big smile on her face. True story!

Before I get all cocky and promise Ferbs any favors *ahem,* we shall wait and see what today brings…. because today we shall throw naptime into the mix. And along with naptime, today is TGIF (aka Trash Day).

I will try to post some updates this weekend on how the sleep training is going, because I know there are a lot of noob parents out there dying for some sleep like me. Wish me luck! And oh yeah, if you don’t hear from me… that means Noob Baby pwned me!

2 delicious comments

Posted in Cry It Out, Ferber, Sleep