Hi! I have a 4 1/2 month-old BF boy. I only just read BW solves all your problems, but my son does always have activity after eating, puts himself to sleep, and has become a good napper. I observed for the past 2 days but have not yet worked to institute strict EASY because he had dr's appt. yesterday and just got 4 month shots, making him very fussy and drowsy. He was a fairly good night sleeper (8-2, feed, 2:30-6) until about 6 weeks ago when he had a growth spurt. Not knowing I was engaging in accidental parenting, I fed him at night more than usual. He has continued to wake every 3-4 hours since then. Since I read the book, I have started the DF the last 2 nights, and now he only wakes once, but I can't tell if it is out of habit or hunger. It's around the same time (3 a.m.- give or take a 1/2 hr.). When I have fed him, he eats well, but a couple of times, he has woken at that time because he's wet through his clothes, and once changed and rocked by my husband (it doesn't work for me; he must smell me), he will go back to sleep for 3 hours w/o the feeding. Now, I'm working to stretch his feedings consistently to 4 hours during the day and make sure I offer both sides even when he seems content w/just the one.
Typical Day:
8 a.m. wake and feed (he never eats for more than 15 mins. combined both sides)
8:20 change diaper, A of some sort (he's never been able to stay awake long in a.m.--have been trying to stretch)
9:00-11 nap
11-11:30 or 12 A
12 E
12:20-1:45 A
1:45-3 S
3 E
3:20-4 A
4-4:45 or 5 S
5-6:30 A
6:30 E
7-7:30 bedtime ritual, including bath
7:30 S
Sorry that this is so long, but my questions are: We want to start PU/PD this weekend (when husband can help), but how do we do it if ds is actually hungry and not just getting up out of habit? I don't want to starve him. Should we wait to start until he's on a consistent 4-hr. EASY routine during the day? My lactation consultant suggested giving lo a bottle of water before offering breast to get him out of the habit. What do you think about this?
Thanks so much in advance for the help--sorry so long.