Can/Should I "Train" Baby to Switch From 2-Hr to 3-Hr Routine?

[zayneegirl]

  My LO is going to be 6 weeks old in a day. We have used most of BW's tactics since birth, allowing for some "newbornisms" here and there. One thing that is going on pretty consistently is that his schedule is more of a 2-hr one, all day and night (with maybe a 3-hr or two once in a while). He is like clockwork mostly, going from E to A to S, and back up for E in TWO HOURS!

Also, he will eat at one breast for only about 15 mins and be done.

Is there a way to train him to stretch his clockwork out to the 3-hour routine suggested by the book? Would I do a CIO thing for a day or two to get him to eat more which would get him to be fuller longer so his time expands? Do I need to make him wait to eat for a while?

If there are proven successful ways to do this, I'd love advice.
If it is not likely to work, I don't want to put him through unnecessary stress/unhappiness.

Answers?

[Shdef]

You can try a 2.5 hour EASY.

Looks like this:

E: 7 am
A: 7-8
S: 8-9.30

E: 9.30
A: 9.30-10.30
S: 10.30-12

E: 12
A: 12-1
S: 1-2.30

E: 2.30
A: 2.30-3.30
S: 3.30-5

E: 5
A: 5-6
S: 6-6.30 catnap, 30-45 minutes, if he doesn't take it earlier bed time

E: 6.30 pm first half of the night feed
A: bath, bed time routine
E: 7.30 second half of the night feed

S: 8 pm

DF: 11 pm


How does that look?

bathtime routine
E: 7

bed


The last nap may be a little bit shorter, the other ones may a be a little bit longer, it doesn't HAVE to be correct, ifykwim. But I think the longer time enables baby to get more hindmilk, that's what Tracy says

Then if that works well you can slowly switch to 3 hour EASY cause he will also need more A-time soon.

[Shdef]

This doesn't have to be followed strictly, it's more the order of events that matters. If naps are longer and time stretches it's fine, if they are slightly shorter, it's fine, too

It takes a while longer to get into a "proper" routine for many babies.

[zayneegirl]

question is, do I HOLD OFF on feeding him right when he wants it? For a few days until he shifts?

[Shdef]

If he is genuinely screaming from hunger I would not hold it off, it may also be a growth spurt and the frequent feeding keeps up supply.

However, once he did have a 2.5 or 3 hour stretch try to make the feed as efficient as possible to get a longer stretch. At that age I was still breastfeeding, too and the LC advised one breast, then nappy change, then the other breast, that may do the trick and make the next stretch 2.5 hours, too.

[zayneegirl]

sorry to keep asking-- So would I also wake LO up if his naps seem to throw off the 2.5 hr. routine?

[Shdef]

Not after 2.5 hours, but after 3 I would. Keeps the routine flexible, too. Three hours is where you want to go eventually, if he does sleep longer, then I would only wake after 3 weeks from the beginning of the last feed.

[zayneegirl]

I guess I'm still confused. How will he switch to 3 hours instead of two? If his instinct is two, what will trigger the change? Will I be forcing a strict "schedule" on him to begin with, and wait for him to develop his own habit? Is 6 weeks too young to expect this?

I am really trying to wrap my mind around the concept, since i guess MY style of EASY isn't as structured as this all makes it seem.  Do I make sense?

[zayneegirl]

BUMP

[Shdef]

I would just go with his cues just now. Try get a good feeding into him without him falling asleep while feeding (that is often the reason for "snackers") and keep the order of events going (Eat, Activity, Sleep). That is enough at that age. I reckon it will average out to be a 2.5 hour easy and then he will slowly stretch it. That happens when A-time gets longer and he can stay a awake to play and look around a little longer