I've tried and tried to encourage a 3 hour routine with my 12wk ds, but, while we were getting there with the daytime naps, he wouldn't eat much upon waking, or for the duration of his activity. I tried extending to 4 or sometimes 5 hours, but he still wouldn't each much at a feed. He is bottle fed.
He began dropping below his curves, going from 9th centile, to almost 5th. I discovered a couple of days ago that he will eat quite well if I feed him as he wakes at the 45 min mark (then it's actually easier to get him back to sleep for the rest of his nap), then when he wakes before his activity, then when I put him back down for a nap. It would appear he prefers to eat while he's sleepy, whilst in his carrycot (ie not being held). He does have mild reflux and is on Gaviscon in each feed, so I'm wondering if small feeds are easier on his tum. I don't like feeding him whilst he's flat, but slightly inclined in his cot, but just seems too distracted if I hold him.
Since midnight, I have fed him 10 times, between 35ml and 85ml at a time. He is up to 580ml right now (2.40pm) which is great for him, as until I was feeding him like this, this is all he'd have in 24hours!
He goes to bed at 7pm, then feeds when I go to bed (he's in the same room at the moment) about 10.30pm, then at about 1am or 2am, then 3am or 4am, then 6.30am. In between these times he often wakes me up snuffling about too. He has always been like this on a night though, that is why I bought Tracy's book - I was and still am absolutely exhausted
My thinking is, is that if I can get him to take quite a lot in the day (however I can), then I might be able to settle him through the first night feed (the one after the 10.30pm one) it's generally only a small (35m;-40ml) feed anyway.
Am I setting myself up for further problems?? Or is it ok to feed like this during the day? The way I feel at the moment, I don't care how I feed him in the day as long as it helps him sleep longer in the night.
Sorry if this isn't very coherent - I'm sooo tired, I'm probably not making much sense :shock: