3 month old not getting full feed! Disrupts EASY!

[JennVanessa1083]

My LO turned 3 months yesterday. I believe he was going through a growth spurt as he was eating more frequently, sleeping less (short naps and nw every 1-2 hours to eat), fussy, clingy, not to mention learned some great stuff along the way. I am now in the process of attempting to re establish EASY. His sleep is also messed up from traveling and from many night wakings. Last night he finally slept for 3-4 hour chunks which gives me hope that he is getting back on track. 

During the day (from wake up until evening when he starts cluster feeding) he tends to nurse from one breast then stop (usually 6-8 minutes of nursing). He seems full as I try to burp him then offer the same side or the other side in case. However he refuses. The crazy part is that about a half hour later he wants to eat again! But by that time it's right before his sleep time so then he just goes to sleep. Then starts the vicious cycle over again. Is it still the growth spurt? Is this normal for his age?
Am I encouraging snacking? Before his spurt, he was eating full feeds, did an activity, then sleep. But the last 2 weeks it completely changed.

On average he was eating every 2-3 hours depending but now it's like every 1-1hr1/2 sometimes less! Needless to say my EASY is looking more like EAES. I need help bc I don't know how to reverse all of this. Should I be extending the time in between feelings? How do I do that when he is still taking 45 minute naps?

[deb]

Short answer: 3-month growth spurt. Longer answer when I'm not Kindle-typing.lol

[JennVanessa1083]

Lol I got you! Well I would love the long answer when you get the chance. So I figured it's a continuation of the growth spurt despite it lasting for two weeks now 

So how I can adjust EASY or should I just forget it until it ends. How will I know the growth spurt ends? I have read that it's when baby has a sleepathon but does that happen with all babies. I'm all around confused 

[deb]

LOL

How long have the 45-minute naps been going on? Also, is there any history of reflux? Makes a difference.

[*Ali*]

How long is he awake before he goes down for a nap? I'm thinking he might need a longer A time. Typical A time for a 3mo is 1hr20-30 so he really should have plenty of time to feed and then take th either side 30 mins later without it being anywhere near sleepy time. Half an hour after a feed your milk is really fatty so many babies like to feed again at that sort of time.

[JennVanessa1083]

Thanks for responding ladies! His naps started going under an hour since August so around 9 weeks old (he just turned3 months yesterday). I do realize there were points where he was overtired bc I just started learning about wake times, naps etc around that time. But now I try to not exceed 1 hr 1/2 wake time. Passing that and he gets hyper then fussy. He has a slight case of reflux but no meds or interventions for it. So I try to feed upright and burp but I'll admit I don't always burp. I also cut down on dairy bc it tends to give him more gas.

I didn't think about feeding him again after a half hour probably bc he doesn't give me cuues then. Should I still feed him despite no cues? Should I still adjust wake time?

[JennVanessa1083]

What would a sample EASY look like for my case?

[*Ali*]

The crazy part is that about a half hour later he wants to eat again! But by that time it's right before his sleep time so then he just goes to sleep.

Sorry, I thought by this you meant he wanted to eat half an hour after you feed him, no?

A typical EASY for a 3mo would be something like
E 7.00
A 1.5hrs
S 8.30-10.00
E 10.00
A 1.5hrs
S 11.30-13.00
E 13.00
A 1.5hrs
S 14.30-16.00
E 16.00
A 1hr20
S 17.20 for 30-40 mins
E 18.30 (or this might be split either side of a the wind down for BT/bath and be 18.00 and 18.45 for example.
S 19.00
DF 22.00
1-2 NFs at 2 and/or 5am for example

But no baby will do that exactly and many BF babies will need top up BFs before the next nap or will do shorter naps and want to eat early sometimes.

If you were to add in top ups you'd be doing something more like
E 7.00
E 7.30/45
A
S 8.30 etc.


Babies with reflux often want to eat little and often as it soothes the pain from the acid. To feed but big feeds can aggravate the acid problem.

If you think he is intolerant to dairy then only cutting it out fully will resolve that

[deb]

Whoops, I missed notifications on this!

Here is how it worked out for us all those years ago: How Tracy Helped Josie and her Family Get Past 45-Min. Naps!

[JennVanessa1083]

Thank you these are helpful. I was wondering how I can get my LO to go to bed earlier I feel like the short naps are making bedtime later...any suggestions? Also, what would an EASY schedule look like with 45 minute naps throughout the day?

[deb]

When we were short-napping i just put her down after an hour or so A time 6 times a day or so. It was soooo good to combine them  to make 3 bigger naps in the end.

[JennVanessa1083]

So are you saying if he has a short nap put him down after an A of 1 hour? When would I feed him bc that's always the tricky part.

[deb]

I'd say if he short-naps, TRY to keep him up another 10-20 minutes (as low-key as possible). Feed as close to when the next E would be; if he sleeps thru it, odds are he'll wake hungry, so you feed him then and just keep it close-ish. My mantra during these phases was "fake it till you make it." During a growth spurt, those EASY times are "more like guidelines, really" anyway.

[JennVanessa1083]

So to clarify, if he short naps, keep him up 10-20 minutes then feed and still ride out the regular A time or aim to have him back down within the hour of waking up from his short nap?

I'm sorry I'm a little confused. Also he seems to eat every two hours, is this ok at 3 months? How can I extend if I need to?

Thank you so much for all your help!

[deb]

3 months is a HUGE HUGE growth spurt; eating every 2 hours is not at all out of the range of "normal" while his calorie needs are adjusting. The frequent feeds will send a message to YOUR body to produce more milk, so your supply is being adjusted upwards by the more frequent nursing. This should even out in a few days.

Sorry I was unclear in my wording (I could use a bit more coffee LOL): If he short-naps, keep him up the hour and see if he'll stay awake 10-20 minutes past that. (If not, no harm no foul - sleep gets changed up a lot during growth spurts as well.)