Should I go cold turkey and go to 4 hour easy

[Sarahboh]

My ds just turned 16 weeks yesterday in the past week he has been waking early from naps and not feeding as well on a 3 hour easy, every 2nd feed is large and the one in between are smaller. I would like to switch and I think it is time to switch to a four hour easy. I went cold turkey with my daughter and I am leaning towards trying this again with my ds2. Has anyone went cold turkey and it worked? I think he can stay up longer and seems to need to since his naps are shorter. What would you do and what worked for you? Is he the right age to do this? TIA

[MJMom]

I requested of my nanny to ease my LO into this over 2 weeks.  Our overzealous nanny did it in 2 days!      I think my LO was 18-19 weeks at the time.  I don't think I necessarily recommend cold turkey from 3 hrs though.  I would slowly extend to 3.5 then 4.  At the time that my Nanny did the cold turkey, my LOs routines ranged already from 3 - 4 hrs depending on her, so she was already part way there.  Follow your LO's cues and just slowly allowing more time to go between feeds. 

[Sarahboh]

Thanks, Marina! What a great nanny!! I am really nervous to do this but I feel it needs to be done, it is simply not working anymore at 3 hours, especially with the naps and feeding.
 It is not so much the feeds I am worried about since at 3 hours he doesn't seem to be starving and can take up to 8.5 ounces at a feed, it is me keeping him on the 3 hour just due to age. As well all of his naps are short, 40-45 minute wakes then can't get back to sleep, when he does only sleeps for a little more and is ready to play.
He is a big baby-on my scale he is 17.5 pounds and I don't think needs the 3 hour feeds. He sleeps at night from 7-7 without any feeds (not even the dream feed).

I am an all or nothing type of person so I find this hard

[MJMom]

I'd say follow his cues as you let him go longer between feeds.  So jumping directly to 4 hrs might be problematic, but if you wait until he shows the hunger cues rather than just feeding him at 3 hrs, he'll guide you to where he should be.   You may be an all or nothing mommy, but he may not be an all or nothing kid! 

He'll likely have specific feeds that may jump to 4 hrs right away, some that stay at 3 and any where in between.

HTH!