is he snacking? - 2.5 hr EAS (want to go to 4hr)

[lunababy]

Hi. I have a 4 mo who is a very happy little guy despite the fact he is a 45 min napper.  I also have a 2.5 yo DD.  Due to her schedule and his short naps we've been stuck in a 2.5 hour EAS cycle.  Some parts later in the day he tends to be in a AEAS 3 hr.  And in evening he does EAS in about 2 hours.

I am wondering if I have created a snacker because of this.  He is about 15 lbs.  I have a pretty strong let down.  He eats ferociously for about 5 min and then slowly for another 5-10.  He always seems to empty my breast.  I have thought he was a fast eater but maybe a snacker?

He has started to extend his naps so I think we have a great window to transition to a 4 hr EASY.  I have the "Solves Your Problems" book with the schedule.  I'm just not sure how to make a bigger leap since that is based on going from 3 to 4. 

He has been waking at night lately and I think it could be a growth spurt.  (Has been 4 weeks from his last one and that one was very obvious.) 

I am trying to stretch him out a bit starting yesterday and also feed from both sides for a bit to work on my supply.

Any other thoughts on how to help him transition?

Thanks!

If it helps...here's what a typical day looks like based on last week (although I let him wake and go to bed on his own so times tend to vary by an hour or more depending on the day). I am going to post about his routine in another forum.

8 am - wakes
9 am - E
10-11 - S
11:30 - E
1-2 - S
2:15 - E
3-4:30 - S
5 - E
6-7 - S
7:15 - E
9 - E
10 - Bedtime (he is very alert after last feed for 45 min before he gets sleepy)

 

[Carter'sMama]

Hi there!

At your lo's age it is common to be on a 4 hr schedule.  It is possible for your lo to be both a fast eater and a snacker!  I know that the BWSAYP book shows the transition from a 3hr to a 4hr routine but you could just work on getting to the 3 hr routine first.  I had a friend who got into the bad habit of feeding every 2 hrs and her little girl put on a lot of weight.  When it came time to transition she was able to do it cold turkey (just all of a sudden went from 2hr to 4 hrs).  I think that shows that it was a snacking issue.  I am not in any way telling you to do it like that!!  Just letting you know that you are not the only one in that situation.

Alot of times when babies are ready to move to a 4 hr schedule, their night time and daytime sleep gets messed up.  Likewise once babies are adjusted to a 4 hr routine their night time and day time sleep seems to iron itself all out.

I would suggest doing a slow transition to a constant 3 hour routine and then start working on a 4 hour routine.  Only start the transition though if you little guy isn't currently going through a growth spurt.  If he is going through one then he will need the extra calories.  I think the best way to stretch them our a lottle longer between feeds is to use distraction.   It always worked for my little guy!

HTH