How do I work a 3 hour schedule for a quick eater

[jinman1421]

I have a 7 week old and I just started (the past week) the EASY method. Prior, I did have him on a eat, play, sleep routine since birth so that part of it has not been difficult.  The problem I am having is regarding the 3 hr schedule.  I'm nursing and I have a very quick let-down. When nursing, it takes less than 5 seconds for my milk to start flowing; while pumping it is typically less than 15 seconds.  My LO seems to completely empty a breast in about 8 minutes, give or take.  I have verified that the breast is empty through pumping.  Even when I pump, I can empty a side under 10 minutes (usually I get most of the milk out in 5 mins).  I believe I have plenty of milk for his age(I pumped 4oz from one breast this am).  If my LO does not feed from the other breast (sometimes he refuses), we are done nursing in 10 minutes! He than plays for about 30 minutes before he starts to show signs of being tired.  By the time we go through our sleep routine, only 45 minutes to 1 hour (max) has passed since he was last asleep.  This is the problem. He rarely sleeps for 2 hours.  Even in Tracy's book, she talks about naps only being around 1 hour 15 mins  to 1 1/2 hours.  Should I try to get him to take the entire 2 hour nap (using shh/pat method?) as to stay on a 3 hour schedule, or feed him whenever he wakes (usually 2 hours 15 mins into the routine).  Thanks!!

[sherry lynn]

At this age I would try to stretch him to at least 2h30m for eating. Then as his A time increases maybe you can up the time of the interval between eating.
Since he is such a fast eater maybe you could have a little bit of activity time before you feed him. Then feed him, then have a little more activity, maybe even just a diaper change, and then put him down to sleep.

What do you think?

[marilyn73]

I have a fast eater too.  We didn't start following easy until about 14 weeks, and by then she could last 3 hours between feeds.  Can't remember what happened in the 7 week age, but she did nap for at least 2 hour stretches, so I think that's what made it easier - but we were always done feeding in 10 min or less, and we did only single sided feeding for the longest time.  But weight gain was steady so I didn't worry too much.  Count your lucky stars, I have a friend who's been feeding for 45 min - 1 hour and 15 - try to get easy to work then - there's no time for A at all!

[sherry lynn]

My LO fed for 45 min   It was hard. By the time I stopped feeding at about 9 months he was still only down to 35-40 min. Crazy.