Please help: HAD 3 hour : now a snacker:

[smiletoday]

hi,

I really need advice. My DH and I just returned from going out of town and now our 3.5 month old is a snacker. We were working on a 4 hour and it seemed to be working but when we got to the new environment everything went out the window. Now he constantly wants to eat every two hours. I tried everything to get him to eat longer but nothing works right now, he is BF.  Also I have been BF him to sleep which I never did and now I think he thinks he needs it.  He also went down for the night by himself, now that is different. We were gone for 4 days.

Where do I start again?
I know it is not a growth spurt because he  just had it.

How do I stop the  cycle of snacking if he refuses to eat?

I really need encouragement.
 Thanks

[Samuel's mum]

 What sort of routine are you able to manage? Things sometimes change when there's been a bit of travel but they can settle down again. Some babies become hungrier as they become more active and end up feeding a little bit more regularly for the final few weeks before they start solids at around 6 months. There's another post which outlines this https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=55679.0

[CaedensMama]

My advice is try and keep to a routine, and not nurse to sleep and if the 4 hour EASY isn't there - it is okay -
We can only do 4 hr when we are out and if we are home it is more like a 2 hour - BUT - we go to sleep awake and not nursing and it is working for us. Remember to work with the baby to make the best routine for both of you!

[daisymelan]

I would wait a few days to see if it sorts itself out, if it doesn't, I think you are goign to have to work hard to get your lo back on track.  And it likely won't be very easy.  You will have to break the nurse to sleep association and you will have to stretch out time between feeds.

I would start, when you are ready, but stretching the feeds.  This can be done by someone else holding your lo while awake. (That's what worked for me).  Plus use any other method you can to stretch him... encouraging full naps will help too.

You will have to use pat/shh to break the nurse to sleep assocation, or whatever method has worked for you in the past.  Hopefully your lo will cooperate and make it easy on everyone.

[smiletoday]

Thank you for your responses.

To my surprise he did much better today actually going almost 4.5 hours for one feed. Do you think that was too long? I have been making sure he gets a full feed each time by doing breast compressions. The hardest part is keeping him awake but when I held off from feeding him for a few minutes he really ate but he got choked up because he was so upset. Is there a way I can help him to not get so upset. Right now our schedule is

up 6:30
E 6:30
A 6:30- 8
S 8:15- 9
A 9-9:30 most of the time we do activity when he first wakes from naps
E 9:30- 9:50
A 9:50 10:30
S 10:50- 12:30
A 12:30- 2:10
E 2:10- 2:30 usually he eats earlier so sleep came next
S Would like to have nap here but it is usually hard to get him down
A 3:30- 4:30
S 4:30- 5:30
A 5:30- 6
E 6- 6:30
Start bedtime routine/ bedtime 7

Suggestions welcome

Thanks again

[daisymelan]

My suggestion would be to only go 4 hours between feeds.  I think 4.5 hours is a bit long during the day.  If it's at night, then YEAH for you!!!!  My lo is 8 months and still nurses every 4 hours or so.

By looking at your routine, it appears the biggest problem is the length of naps.  It looks like you get one good nap in during the day.  I would work on getting your lo to stretch their naps.  This would help balance everything.  I think if you got the naps dealt with, your lo would be going down much easier at bedtime.

Maybe your lo only wants to do a 3 or 3.5 hour routine to get back into the swing of things, and that's ok.  IT's much easier to get on that routine and gently start shifting it then to start from the beginning....  does that make sense?

I hope my words have been helpful.

[smiletoday]

Thank you so much. I had success with WTS about a week ago with using a sound machine but now that does not work. He extends his naps when he wants to. Do you have any suggestions on how to try WTS. I have treied a lot of ways.

thanks

[daisymelan]

I have never had to do wake to sleep, but my suggestion would be to post on the general sleep board.  I'm sure they will be able to help you better over there.

[CaedensMama]

My only success with WTS was when I would go in and take the paci out - it is hard to et the right balance to jar them enough but not wake them up - play with - I have found after a couple times - it would work sometimes and not for others.........
sorry I am not more help!

[smiletoday]

Thanks so much

You both have been very helpful