Going back to work: When does EASY become more predictable?

[natsmom2]

Hello there all,

I have been trying to use EASY since Natalie was 4 weeks old.  She is 8 weeks now.  I feel like we do pretty well...Eats every 3 hours during the day, always takes full feeds, sleeps around 6 hours at night.  I think she is a cross between a textbook and spirited baby.  She needs some encouragement with the patting to stay down for naps and has a tendency to fall asleep after eating, skipping the activity time.  So here is my question:

I am going back to work and having family watch her during the school day (I am a teacher).  She wakes around 4 or 5 am most nights, so it is hard to have a regular "first feed" because she is not at all interested in eating at 6:30 when I have tried.  So I let her decide when to eat again, making the start of her day unpredictable.  Could be 7, could be 8:30. 

Is she too young to have a standard "first feed" time?
When should an established "bedtime" be?

[*Jo*]

Hi there, well you can have an established first feed, its when you decide to wakeup, so having a set wakeup and bedtime is quite essential. bedtime should always be 12 hours after wake up. I wouldnt be letting her fall asleep after a feed though as this will mess up the routine and goes against the idea of Eat, Activity and then Sleep. Alot of babies are tired after a feed as its very relaxing but Tracy recommends you sit them up and gently wake them up.

EASY doesnt really ever become predictable, because babies arent predictable, you just get to know you baby alot better, there is a bit of predictability but then a month goes by and you need to alter things as they grow and their needs change.

does that help a bit?

[natsmom2]

Thank you!  It does!

Another bedtime question.  We are feeding her at 7 am.  So bedtime should be 7pm.  Even if she ate at around 5 or so, should I still feed and head towards bed around 7???

[*Jo*]

can I ask why you are feeding at 5pm? generally on a three hour EASY they eat at 7,10,1,4 and then 7 for bedtime.

but generally yes you still feed them at bedtime even if she ate at 5pm, she needs her 5 feeds in the day

[natsmom2]

We do the EASY routine, but sometimes she wants to eat at 3.5 hours, so her schedule gets thrown a bit.  She is a big baby and seems to be transitioning to a 3.5 or even 4 hour EASY.  I tried having her eat at 3 hours, but she was not taking a full feed because she was not quite hungry yet.  She takes about 4-5 ounces from a bottle, so I think she can go longer.  Does that makes sense???

[*Jo*]

yep it does make sense and thats fine if thats what she needs, however it will make it difficult for her to take her bedtime bottle if its only been 2 hours, or does she still take it anyway?

[natsmom2]

Since I last posted, she has moved to a regular 4 hour schedule.  7, 11, 3, and 7.  Sometimes she wakes around 5 am to eat, sometimes she doesn't.  I think she is close to not waking at all!  She moved to this schedule on her own!  Thanks for the support here!!!