5 week old has put himself on 4 hour EASY?!?

[Alexian28]

5 week old DS got sick 1 1/2 weeks ago, then ended up in hospital for respiratory distress Monday, got discharged Wednesday. I've been EPing for him since he got sick. I think he's taking more from bottles than he did BF (following his hunger cues), and has now shifted to a 4hr easy routine. Is this going to come back and bite me in the butt, getting too much daytime sleep? Do I need to wake him at the 3hr mark for a bit to shift him back? Here's a typical day.

E/A: 8am, 4oz
S: 9:20-11:50
E/A: 12, 5oz
S: 1:10-3:55
E/A: 4pm, 6oz
S: 5:10-7:45
E: 7:45, 6oz (no A time here, straight to bed)
S: 8:15pm-12:30am
E 12:30am, 4oz
S: 1am-4am
E: 4am, 4oz
S: 4:30-8am, start day over again

The start of S times are general as sometimes he'll last in his crib for 30 min quiet but awake, sometimes he goes right to sleep.

ETA: he didn't take a dream feed last time we tried before he got sick so I'm just letting him wake when he's hungry.

[lily_layne]

My DS never wanted to eat before 4 hrs and it was sometimes closer to 5! I worried a lot at first but it didn't seem to cause any problems. I'm glad your LO is on the mend. The long sleeps could also be his way of recovering so I would definitely let him sleep.

[becj86]

Part of it may be that he was fed every 4hr in hospital?

Also, sleeping and healing so yes, I'd just let him sleep for now and see how it goes, he may well change it up again when he's recovered.

[Alexian28]

I did wonder if he's just recovering from being sick, which is mostly why I've let him sleep. I stayed with him while he was hospitalized and was more on a 3 to 3.5 hr routine because he had problems eating due to his oxygen tube and coughing. He couldn't eat enough to go longer but as soon as we got home (and could sleep... no machines!) he flipped to this routine instead. For now I'll just let it go as is, I know he needs the rest, and watch for cues that it isn't working anymore. He's just so young!

[lily_layne]

watch for cues that it isn't working anymore. He's just so young!

That sounds like a good plan! He is so very young yet - it's ok to let him lead at this point.