Can EASY work if EBF?

[ericapt]

Hello ladies.  I am fairly new to this board and have been following EASY since LO was about 2 months old.  Things are going ok, but I was just wondering if anyone has some advice for me.  Currently we are on a 3 hour routine starting at 6 am.  LO is 5 months old and nurses 6 times between 6 am and 7 pm  (cluster feeds at 5 and 7 pm).  I can't seem to spread his feedings much further than 3 hours apart, therefore, he is only staying awake about 1.5 hours at a time, occassionally longer.  He takes 3 naps + 1 cat nap a day.  Do I need to try to make him go longer in between feedings and spread things out so there are only 2 naps + 1 cat nap?  We've tried a little, but then we end up with only 5 feedings a day and he wakes at 2 or 3 am to nurse which I really don't want to go back to.  How can I help him?  Is it ok to stay on a 3 hour EASY?  I just feel like he should be able to stay awake longer and I want to be able to get out of the house (kind of difficult when he is only awake 1.5 hours including feeding).  Thanks to all you wonderful mommies for your help and support!
Erica

[Jocasta]

I'd say to stick with it.  You can follow EASY when a baby is EBF but you need to be a little more flexible as breastfed babies digest their food much quicker than a ff baby, and every breastfed baby has different digestion rates etc.  As for going out, will your little guy not sleep in the buggy?  DD2 is on 2.5hr EASY and we still get out of the house.  Admittedly her routine isn't exactly by the clock when we're out but it's still possible to follow the E A S Y while you're out and about.

The current advice is to feed on demand and if you're definitely interpreting his cues correctly, I *personally* wouldn't try and stretch him out any further.

If you really want to stretch his feeds out, you don't need to go the extra hour straight away.  You could try doing it with 15 minutes to start with over a course of several days until you are a bit closer to your goal - this is just hypothesising so bear that in mind

[Aly Mac]

What Jocasta said!! xxx

You need to do what makes your family and your baby happy for now. If he is happy with his feeds and after his naps, and as you say the nights are good then I wouldn't change it for now.  Things change so quickly, that you will find he will change things up on your all by himself.

you are doing great!

[ericapt]

Just wanted to say thank you to Jocasta and Aly Mac.  I appreciate the encouragement and advice.  It does make me feel better that other BFing moms follow a 3 hour EASY or near that.  LO is doing well with his routine, so I guess it doesn't have to increase yet.  Maybe he will want to increase as he gets a little older.  It would be nice to have him awake a little bit longer though, but right now he just becomes Mr. crabby pants if he's up much past 1.5 hours.  I'd rather have a happy, rested baby.  Thank you both again!
Erica

[clh]

Good for you following your lo's cues & needs!    Congrats!  Like Aleesa said, breast milk is so easily digested, it's not unusual for ebf babies *not* to spread their feeds as soon as ff babies do.

[Vicku]

Agree with all pps. Sounds like you're doing great! Why not try and see if your LO would sleep in the pram so you can get out, maybe even for a walk so you both get some fresh air. Also if he sleeps well at night you don't really want to be messing with his naps (as long as things are working well) as good daytime sleep means good nighttime sleep in most cases.

Good luck with it and happy whispering!

[mumofalice]

Just wanted to say that I could have written your post myself!! My DD is 8.5 months old, is EBF and has only just about managed to get to a 4hr EASY - I was worried at 5 months that she still hadn't moved to 4hrs (in fact I have an ongoing post in the EASY forum 'Can't seem to extend the 3hr rountine' with Melissa) and that she could still only manage 1-1.5 hrs of A time. She had six feeds a day (inc. a DF) at that point and still does (she now feeds before and after her bath - whereas before she couldn't stay awake after her bath!) We're now down to 2 naps and a catnap - but at this point most LOs drop the catnap . . . my LO just needs her sleep - which is not a bad thing   I've learnt from my mistakes by missing those tired cues that a tired LO (who is textbook / touchy) is a hard LO to settle.

My LO is a cot addict so I found it hard to get out too - but she will sleep in the car seat and / or buggy (as long as it's moving LOL!) - so some days we just get out and 'go with the flow'. Have learnt to accept that I might end up with a day that goes a bit wonky and even a LO who is OT (as she doesn't nap as well when we're out) but we make up for it by having an earlier bedtime and we have a day at home the next day to make sure she has good quality naps in her own bed.

I would say that you're doing a great job - and your LO will let you know when he's ready for more A time - just like my DD did . . . 45 min naps were the tell tale sign in my case.

Hope my rambling is of some help 

[ericapt]

mumofalice-
First of all, what an adorable little girl!  And thank you, thank you, thank you for your post!  I am so glad to hear that other BFing moms stayed on a 3 hour EASY past 4 months old.  My little guy just can't seem to stay awake any longer.  Occassionally we get a longer stretch in the evening, but he is usually pretty fussy by bed time.  I just can't figure out how to move his bedtime any earlier without skipping a feeding because he nurses and 6 am, 9 am, noon, 3 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm and then goes to sleep at about 8 pm.  I've even tried moving bed time to 7 pm or a little after, but he never settles to sleep before 8.  Well, I will try to just go with the flow more.  I am definitely going to get out of the house more now that the weather is getting nicer here.  Thank you again and best of luck to you as well.
Erica~~ 

[Vicku]

Erica, I forgot to mention, my DD stayed on a 3hr EASY til we had introduced solids. She was the same, just couldn't extend successfully so stayed with it. We had same feeding times as you just said in your pp.

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

hi, 6.5mths and on 3hr too if its working then i would stick with what your doing.

Kate x

[ericapt]

vicku and mum of 3-
thank you both for your replies.  It is so reassuring to hear of other mommies routines and words of advice.  I definitely think the 3 hour routine is working well, with a little variance from day to day.  Maybe he will begin to stretch it out once he starts solids like you mentioned vicku.  I hope to feel confident enough some day soon that I can offer words of encouragement to other mommies.  Thank you all for everything.  You are life savers/sanity savers!
Erica~~

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

 

[Vicku]

No worries hun!  

[mumofalice]

erica - I think she's adorable too - but then I am biased LOL! love coming on these boards just to see the LOs - so many cuties 

Just wanted to pop back and say that I am sure that you will be confident enough to come on here and post words of encouragement. You're doing a great job - I think posting to ask for help / advice / encouragement / reassurance is a big step in itself - and you've already done that.

I used to pop on these boards in the early days and see if I could find answers to any questions I might have - this usually worked until one day (one of those pear-shaped days you get!) I couldn't find what I was looking for - so I had to post and ask my question. I was amazed at the responses and haven't looked back since 

I never thought that I would be sharing my experiences - but here I am responding to your post because I can honestly say I do know how you feel. As I said earlier your post could have been written by me - my first post was when Alice was 20 wks and I feel like I was in the same boat (check out the link if you want to - my original post!)

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=114637.msg1186944#msg1186944

Good luck with everything - and I look forward to the day I read one of your responses 

[ericapt]

mumofalice-
thank you again.  It was interesting to read your original post.  Even though every baby is different, it's interesting that they can have so many things in common.  Hayden, however, usually doesn't put himself to sleep.  He is still swaddled and uses paci.  At night if paci falls out I can usually go put it back in and he goes back to sleep.  I can't wait until we are rid of the miracle blanket and paci because they are major props in his life.  He is an easy baby according to family and friends and has a woderful disposition.  We feel very blessed!  I think if I can relax and just go with the flow things will work out.  I'm sure people have done less planning/routines for their LO's and the babies turned out just fine.  thank you again and happy BW!
Erica~~