The EASY Method: What, How and Why

Have you heard of the EASY method aka the eat/awake/sleep or e/w/s routine? I used this with both of my children and found it to be a natural way to extend night sleep. Babies are constantly searching for patterns within their environment. Predictability= security.

So what is the EASY method?

Created and coined by nurse Tracy Hogg, it stands for Eat/Awake/Sleep/You. And it WORKS!

𝐄- Starting around 3 weeks, your baby wakes up for the day, so you feed them! The goal is to keep them awake while eating (to the best of your ability)! This allows your baby to take a fuller feed, intaking enough from a bottle or getting access to hind milk. Keeping them awake takes work but it needs to be done!

𝐀- After baby has eaten, it's time to spend some time "awake" which essentially just looks like staring off into space or at your lovely face! Don’t forget, feeding is included within awake time.

𝐒- Now that your baby has eaten and has spent a short time awake, it's time to sleep! If they're under 8 weeks, swaddle them or wear/hold, pop the paci in, and turn on white noise. Around 6-8 weeks I recommend practicing 2 bassinet naps a day to get them exposed to an independent sleep space.

𝐘- Y stands for you time because, my friend, you cannot pour from an empty cup. This might mean a 5 minute shower or going to the bathroom alone, but the best thing you can do for your child is take care of their mother!!!

Have you used the EASY method? Comment below! If you're pregnant or have a newborn I highly recommend considering it! I consider it a very natural way to expose your baby to healthy patterns.

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