Hi there,
I know how I was so worried about this transition. I had read through just about all the threads under E.A.S.Y. Forum trying to find related topics that can help me transitioning. Now after 3 weeks DD has been successfully transitioned with very little problem so I just want to share my successful experience with the moms out there in hope this might help one or two.
Facts (I believe they attributed to the success):
- DD is Angle/Textbook type
- DD was on EASY at week 6
- DD was thriving on 3hr EASY
- DD is a good sleeper (nap long and STTN since week 10)
- DD is formula fed
- DD is doing 7 to 7 cycle
I did not wait for DD to show me very clear signs that she needed to be moved from 3hr to 4hr. I did however logged everything starting week 14th. The most I can tell was that she was a bit slow in some feeds at 3hr mark. I read that for FF LOs the eating interval should come to 4hr before the A time. So I decided to started the transition.
I did try the 3.5hr EASY at week 15, using the routine posted in "3-4hr EASY transition - in 5 minutes increment", however it resulted DD NW for 2 nights in a row. I think the problem was that she used to catnap in the early evenings but the routine calls for 1.5hr. She did not nap that long so was way OT in the evenings. Although I did put her to bed early, it still did not help her rest. So I went back to 3hr EASY for couple of days and she was STTN again.
I then started the transition in week 16. I took the routine from p230 in Tracy's book and tweaked it so that it will work for DD - Mainly is to ensure the total hours of day sleep does not change with the transition. On 3hr easy, DD has 3 x 1.5hr nap = 4.5hr, plus catnap of around 30 - 40min, DD has total of 5hr to 5hr 15min day sleep. This helped her STTN. So I want to make sure that she gets the total hours in the day while I am stretching her. Since DD is a good napper in the day... I decided to have her nap 2hr early on as opposed to the way was done in Tracy's book.
Day 1-3: Observing - 3Hr Easy
E 7
A 7 - 8:30
S 8:30 -10
E 10
A 10 - 11:30
S 11:30 - 1
E 1
A 1 - 2:30
S 2:30 - 4
E 4
S 5 (catnap for 30 to 45min on walk)
E 7
BT 7:15-7:30
Day 4-6: Only increase first A, being the shortest A in the day, I stretched it 5 min each day, this is the same as Tracy's book.
E 7
A 7 - 8:35 (day 4), 7-8:40 (Day 5), 7-8:45 (Day 6)
S 8:35 (8:40, 8:45) -10:15
E 10 :15
A 10:15 - 11:45
S 11:45 - 1:15
E 1:15
A 1:15 - 2:45
S 2:45 - 4:15
E 4:15
S 5 (catnap for 30 to 45min on walk)
E 7
BT 7:15-7:30
Day 6-9: First nap to 2hr, 2nd A to 1hr 45min, 2nd nap to 1hr 45min. DD is doing well with the jump of 15min of A time in the mid day.
E 7
A 7-8:45
S 8:45 -10:45
E 10 :45
A 10:45 - 12:30
S 12:30 - 2:15
E 2:15
A 2:15 - 3:45
S 3:45 - 5:15
E 5:15
S No cat nap
E 6:30
BT 6:45
Day 10 - 13: 2nd nap to 2hr, 3rd A to 1hr 45min, 2nd feed to 11am
E 7
A 7-8:45
S 8:45 -10:45
E 11
A 10:45 - 12:30
S 12:30 - 2:30
E 2:30
A 2:30 - 4:15
S 4:15 - 5:15
E 5:30
S No cat nap
E 6:45
BT 7
Note, although I was aware and prepared for the 16week GS and was giving more food each feed in hope to try to give more calories in Day time, DD did EW at 5am on day 11 and then 4am on Day 13. Day 13 is more like a GS as she gulped down 5oz.
Day 14 - 17: 2nd A to close to 2A, 3rd feed move to 3pm.
E 7
A 7-8:45
S 8:45 -10:45
E 11
A 10:45 - 12:45 (since it is just 15min I don't usually worry about it, if short for 5-10 min, I still let DD sleep till 2hr mark)
S 12:45 - 2:45
E 3:00
A 2:45 - 4:30
S 4:30 - 5:30
E 6
S No cat nap
E 7
BT 7:15
Day 18 - 21: 3rd A to close to 2A, No more cluster feed, feeding is at 4hr interval, total feeds of the day is 4.
E 7
A 7-8:45
S 8:45 -10:45
E 11
A 10:45 - 12:45 (since it is just 15min I don't usually worry about it, if short for 5-10 min, I still let DD sleep till 2hr mark)
S 12:45 - 2:45
E 3:00
A 2:45 - 4:45
S 4:45 - 5:30 - 5:45
E 7
BT 7:15
Since the 1st A and 3rd A of the day really varies on how tired DD is, I would just make it up with the 1st nap and early BT to make the cycle close to 4hr. DD will eventually catch up.
DD did experience some drop in total daily intake between day 8 -12 and I was worried but she still STTN 4 out of the 5 days. Now we are on week 18 and DD has adapted to the 4hr Easy nicely. Her tummy is finally showing signs of getting bigger because she woke at 6:30am for 2 days and wanted food! and that is when I stopped the 6pm cluster feed so DD can have a full feed just before bed.
I hope this will help some moms who are looking for a way to transition theirs LOs with as little disruption as possible.
