Not all agree on sleep training. 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. Other parents may not navigate the day without a pinpointed schedule that tells them when to feed their child, and when their child should nap; perhaps they feel tied to the house.
To all you parents, I say rest easy. The techniques that make up E.A.S.Y. are meant to be tailored to your child. It will allow you to parent in a more conscious manner. It does not encourage a schedule so much as a routine. If you feel your child is not developmentally ready for the hours suggested here, try utilizing the same principles in a shorter time frame (i.e. 2.5 hours or 3 hours).
It is a routine, a repetition of natural cycles related to each letter that occurs throughout the day. A routine allows for flexibility rather than mechanically following a schedule. As I’ve said before, E.A.S.Y. is not necessarily easy, but it works.
This is part of a series. As your child grows, be sure to adjust their schedule accordingly using additional charts.
E represents EAT. All babies need to eat either liquid thru nursing or bottle-feeding or solids starting at 6 months. Once solids are fully incorporated as meals, milk feedings are more like snacks. Babies 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.
Be aware the routine will 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 plan is on target for Week 6 to Month 4.
You may want to continue using the schedule for Day 4 to Week 6, which is a 3-hour routine until your baby reaches 8 weeks or so, and/or they no longer need the tanking up process in the late afternoon.
INFANT E.A.S.Y: WEEK 6 TO MONTH 4
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
Further, if your family’s routine makes it better to start the day at 7:30 that is acceptable to adjust accordingly. However, it’s not recommended to start the day after 7:30 am nor end the day past 7:30 pm.
7:00 AM (E)at Feed 4-6 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
7:30 (A)ctivity Limited Activity (i.e. changing diaper, talking)
8:30(S)leep Nap (1:45) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
(Y)our Personal Time
10:30 AM E Feed 4-6 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
11:00 A Activity
12:15 S Nap (1:45) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
Y
Afternoon E.A.S.Y. Schedule
2:30 A Activity
3:30 S Nap (1:45) Sleep ritual takes 15-20 minutes
Y
5:30 PM E Feed 4-6 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle)
6:00 A Bath & Bedtime Ritual
S & Y are not defined here as baby will most likely go from a bath to a last evening feed to bed. If your baby is not capable of doing this, see the Evening Time Variation Chart for an alternative.
Evening E.A.S.Y. Schedule
Between 10-11 PM E / S Dream Feed – NO WAKE – activate sucking reflex
Between 3-5 AM E / S Night Feed – BACK TO BED TILL 7 AM
Below is the time variation for the evening activity and bedtime slot for your little one if they get too cranky in the evening. Click on the heading for detailed information.
Evening Time Variation Chart
6:30 S Catnap (30 min)
7:30 E / S Feed 4-6 OZ. Liquid (Breast or Bottle & to bed for night
Then you’ll return to the original chart for the remainder of the evening.
Below is the Food, Activity and Sleep Totals for each day. Click on the heading for detailed information
Daily Food, Activity & Sleep Totals
Day Sleep: 6 hours on average *based on age & activity level influences
Day Activity Time Slots:
2 months 1 hour 15 – 20 mins;
3 months 1 hour 20 – 30 mins;
4 months 1 hour 45 mins – 2 hours
Remember these are guidelines, NOT rules, so if you feel that your baby is not yet ready for these A times, please do not force them, as this will result in issues.
Night Sleep: 5 hour stretches on average *based on body weight influences
The goal is that you gradually extend the time between daytime feedings in 10-15-minute increments so that at 4 months your baby can go around 4 hours between feeds. However, be mindful that during the approximate 3-day growth spurts, if you’re nursing you may need to temporarily tank up with a cluster feed and/or return to the 3-hour routine. Additionally, your baby will need to stay awake 2 hours between feeds before they can transition to a 4-hour routine.
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