New 4 hr EASY - advice wanted

[Niki&Isaac]

Amber has always been a good baby, and from day 1 (14 weeks ago) had never had a disturbed night - till this week. She started to go for 8 or more hours last week (quite suddenly), and during the day she was feeding badly which would in turn disturb her sleep for her next nap so she would wake tired and too soon, but hungry (and it knocked the routine throughout the day) she also started to manage the 2 hr "A" time easily. So I put her on the 4 hour EASY, and this is where the night time trouble has started, I don't mean hunger really (if she wants a night feed at this stage to ease her into a new routine, fine.)(?)  But last night we weren't on schedule (bath at 7, feed at 8, and it took till about 9.30 to get her to sleep) so I set my alarm to wake me at 12 with the hope that this would then see her thru to 7 am to start the routine. She woke at 5.30am, so i swaddled her, and gave a dummy - but she was hungry. So I fed her. So now we are out of routine again today, she went to bed 20 minutes ago (10.05am) so i will get her up at 11.30am and then try to go 3.5 hours and feed again at 3.00 (putting us back on track time wise for 4 hrEASY) DH and I have discussed opening the curtains at 7am every day to help her wake on time (?)

 Is there anything else we can do to help her thru this patch and get her settled again? I feel bad for taking her out of her routine she was perfectly settled in but it just didn't seem to be suiting her any more. Also, If the routine does get messed up, am I going about getting her on track the right way?

[Samuel's mum]

It sounds as though the key thing might be when you say she was 'feeding badly' during the day. Are you breastfeeding and bottlefeeding? I think I remember you are breastfeeding?
Can you say a bit more about what you mean when you say 'feeding badly' and what her behaviour is during feeds. If for example she's breastfeeding and there's an issue then it might explain her hunger later and poorer naps in the day can mean overtiredness and extra wakings at night. A later bedtime can also mean overtiredness and extra wakings.
I'm just wondering whether a feeding issue might be going on somewhere. What is her history of growth spurts? They can come at bizarre times and it might put a spanner in the works of starting a 4hr EASY straight away. A baby who is going through a growth spurt often finds naps harder and you can expect extra night feeds while your supply is being increased. It can also from 2 days to sometimes up to a week.
Thanks.

[Niki&Isaac]

Of course. She is 100% breast fed, the "feeding badly" I was referring to is that after the 3 hours she just isn't hungry, so she sucks a bit and then isn't interested, also she got frustrated waiting for let down, then gets bored soon after the flow calmed down again. When i tried the 4 hour routine she started to take much more at her feeds, and was able to last the 4 hrs. However I have taken on board that I did transition her quite quickly. So we are now back to a 3-3.5 hour routine, and so far she seems much more settled. Last night she did wake for hunger still - but i can accept that - after her day time feeds being all over the place.

Yesterday evening went quite well, she did wake between the 7pm and 11pm, but was settled easily.

6.30pm bath
7.00pm feed
7.30pm bed
11.00pm dreamfeed
2.45am feed
Our routine today is a little out, because she wasn't hungry when she woke, today looks like this.

6.20am Wake + small feed
7.20am med feed
7.40am bed
9.30am wake

10.30am feed
11.20am bed
12.45pm wake

1.30pm feed
2.45pm bed
(will wake at 4.15)
Woke at 3.20 pm

In all honesty her growth spurts have been difficult to pin point.
Here is her weight history
birth       7lb 1oz
2 months 11lb 8oz
3 months 13lb 2oz


Thank you x
 

[Samuel's mum]

OK. It sounds as though you are completely sorted. I agree with trying a slower transition - allows your supply to adjust too. Some people have luck using breast compressions to keep a baby who gets frustrated with slower flow motivated. If you google Dr Jack Newman and breast compressions he has some instructional videos about the technique.

Good luck with the continued transition.

[Niki&Isaac]

Thanks again. x