How much to feed during transition to 4hrly????

[clairebear79]

My LO is 4mo & I want to do a gradual transition to 3.5hr EASY.  However, I'm a bit confused about how much I should give him at each feed once he gets to 3.5hr EASY.

I currently give him 5x 8oz bottles/day at 7, 10, 1, 4 and 6.30 (bed at 7). He generally drinks 7oz but sometimes the full 8.  Also some nights he will STTN, others I feed him around 5am an additional 8oz.
 
If I extend to 3.5hr EASY he will feed at 7, 10.30, 2, 5.30 then again at 7.15pm.  So as bedtime feed is only 1.45hrs after tea-time feed, should I offer another full feed here or just a smaller top-up feed?  Also if it is a smaller feed do I then need to increase the amount I give to him at each of the other feeds through the day? Say 4 x 9oz bottles feeds then 4oz before bed?

Am concerned that if I only give a small feed before bed he may wake up hungry in the night!

I asked these Q's on the EASY board but have been re-directed here.  Any advice/suggestions welcome.xxxx

[AngelaF]

I'd say offer the full feed before bed. It's interesting b/c during the day my DS can go 4 hours w/o a bottle, but even though that bedtime feed is only 2 hours later, he still takes the full 8 oz. Good luck!

I wanted to add too that if he wakes at night or fusses earlier than 3.5 hours, that he'll get there. Don't feel like you have to transition to the 3.5. 

[clairebear79]

Hi Angela

thanks for the advice. :-) I'm just going to try moving him towards 3.5 gradually in 5 minute increments & see how he goes.  If he's not ready I'll leave it a while before trying again.

xx

[~Emma~]

 I found the same as Angela. DS would pretty much always take a good bedtime feed regardless of when his last was. These bubs are quite clever at tanking themselves up.