Should I go back to feeding every 3-3.5 hours?

[carlicost]

My 4.5 month old DS has been transitioned onto a 4 hour EASY for the last three weeks.  He seems to have transitioned well for the most part and doesn't show any obvious signs of being hungry before the 4 hour mark.  I am concerned however as he is only making it 4 hours during the night and takes a full feed.  I BF exclusively and try to extend his time on the breast.  When I do, he eats a bit more, but then basically spits up the extra right after.  In reality I don't have too much of an issue with him waking every four hours during the night as he does go right back to sleep generally, but on some occassions he has gone longer so I'm worried that I'm just training him to eat that often?

His sleep is out of wack as well as sometimes he transitions past the 45 min. mark and other times he doesn't.  We often end up with a EASAE routine because the most he will sleep is 1:15. 

I'm wondering if I should be feeding him more during the day to tank him up a bit?  Or just stick with the 4 hour schedule and hope that in 6 weeks that solids will make a difference?  I try to cluster a bit before bed, but it is tough with his sleep schedule.  I'm worried that he will start snacking or associate eating with sleep.  I don't dreamfeed, but instead he wakes to feed at 11 as I am already asleep.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Jocasta]

My suggestion would be to try feeding him every 3-3.5hrs and see if it makes a difference to your nights - must be worth a shot.   Let us know how you get on.

[A pair of Charlies]

What sort of A times is he on? The 45min nap could be a sign that A time needs to increase just a tiny bit. Dropping the time between feeds sounds good to me - will help him to take on more.

Charlotte

[carlicost]

His activity times are generally 1:45-2 hours.  I thought 45 min. naps were a sign he was OT?  I will try to feed him a bit more often and cross my fingers.  It is getting quite frustrating because I've tried sooo hard to have no bad habits with him and have worked really hard with his sleep but haven't really seem to have gotten anywhere.  I guess that's just the way it is with some.  He is such a happy little guy during the day, I guess I that makes up for his little devil side at night!

[Jocasta]

45 min naps are actually usually ot OR ut!  you have to have a giggle around with timings to see how you go.  Fingers crossed.  30 minute naps are textbook OT and rarely mean anything other than that.

When your lo has had a 45 minute nap - are you shortening his next A time?

[carlicost]

Yes, but we struggle a bit then with him going to bed.  He gets wired up and wants to stay awake.  He seems to have a good nap first thing in the morning, then 45 minutes and then I'm lucky if I can get him down for a catnap before supper.  When he wakes from his 45, he is wide awake and very happy.  Even later in the day when I try to put him down for his catnap he will be happy as can be the moment he is out of his bedroom and can seemingly stay up for another 1:45-2 hours without getting cranky at all.  When bedtime finally comes, he has no trouble going to sleep so I'm definitely confused.  I know he needs to sleep but it is so tough fighting with him for an hour with little to no success when he could just get up and be happy.  I'm not sure what to do with him on that front so perhaps eating is the least of my worries....?

[Jocasta]

Hmm, I'd recommend trying extending his second A time then - just to see how you get on, testing the waters so to speak.  Also, what helped with my two youngest was shortening the first a time but tbh, if his first nap is good - you probably don't want to mess with that

[carlicost]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.  Yes, I am hesitant to mess with his first nap as that is the only good one he has got.  His A time there is 1:45 so I'll try at least that with his second nap.  The only thing that sometimes throws me off is that in the morning he will play quietly in his crib for a good 1/2 hour before he cries so I guess that should be included in his awake time?  If that is the case, then he can likely go longer for sure prior to his second nap.  We'll see how today goes....

[A pair of Charlies]

I think of A as eyes open to eyes closed. But when they're in their bed, quiet but awake I don't treat it as full A time, if that makes sense. Same with out in the pram starting into space... it's like half A, half trance.

Info that might help:
 * http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.msg476652#msg476652
 * http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=85134.0

But remember, babes are all different so typical is the mid ground!

How are the feeds going?

HTH

Charlotte

[carlicost]

Yesterday seemed to go a bit better.  Now that I am feeding every 3.5 hours again he is back on three, 1.5 hour naps, but in reality is more like 1.25 but that's fine.  It seems to be better as he would never make it for 2 hours anyway and the catnap seemed to make him upset.  He made it about 1.5 hours later for his first night feed, eating at midnight instead of around 10:30 so that was great.  After that however, he did only make it every 4 hours but went right back to sleep.

I took him in for his four month vaccinations yesterday and they told me that he was pretty much a little peanut, which is what I already knew, but I guess they confirmed it.  He is only 11 lb. 3 oz, which puts him in the <3% for his length, he was 7 lb. 12 oz at birth.  Since his father was slight when he was that age they figured that he was probably just a skinny minny, but suggested that I get him checked out with a doctor just in case.

In light of that, I am definitely going to stick with the 3.5 hour feedings although he never seems to cry because he wants to eat any sooner so I'm assuming that he is getting all he needs.  I'll ask the doctor when I go in, but I am a vegetarian so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the quality of my milk?  I'm assuming that the milk is probably just as good if not better as it will be leaner instead of high in fat, although I guess babies need that at this age?

[A pair of Charlies]

Awwww such a little cutie in the pic!

Not sure if this info might help: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=94121.0

My LO isn't is a bit of a patient boy, waiting to be fed rather than push for a feed. If you are concerned about weight gain, you could feed more frequently... Let us know how you get on with the doc and if we can do anything to help?

Charlotte

[carlicost]

Thanks for the links.  Looks like we are still low for weight but he is a very happy and strong little guy so I think that's just him   I'll keep you posted when I see the doc next week.  Thanks!

[carlicost]

Just thought I would give a quick update.  The doctor figured that normally she would advise that I supplement, but given she knows me and my little guy, she said that we should wait until his 6 month checkup and go from there as he is thriving despite his light weight.  Also, he is now sleeping through the night!!!  He must be getting enough for sure so I'm not really worried at all.
Thanks again