5.5MO - is she ready for 3-2 transition?

[Hutchy4]

Hello

This is my first time posting- sorry in advance for length!

Our DD is 5.5 months old and was born at a 4.2kg (9+ pounds). She has been on EASY since she was a newborn and have had great success with it - think she is part angel/textbook. She has become a great self-settler and STTN from ¬10 weeks. Until a couple of weeks ago, our EASY was a typical 4 hour EASY was as follows:

   E/A: 7:30
   S: 9:30
   E/A: 11:30
   S: 1:30
   E/A: 3:30
   S: 5:30 (catnap)
   A: 6:00
   E: 7:00
   S: 7:30

However recently, she has started waking up in the morning slightly earlier than usual (nothing too crazy- maybe 30/45 mins earlier) and has taken much longer to go down for naps. Her morning nap has also started being cut short, although generally she seems to be ok with 1.5/2 hours in the afternoon. Sometimes the catnap starts at 5:50pm and once this week she missed it completely and was very crabby by the time I put her to bed 30 mins early. These things all sound like flags of 3-2 transition!!

I have started tracking her A times again and they can range anywhere from 2hrs to 2 hr 45 mins with no pattern.

The past few days:

 13 Dec
 
   E/A: 7:00am
   S: 9:20am
   A: 10:30am
   E/A: 11:00am
   S: 1:15pm
   A: 2:55pm
   E/A: 3:00pm
   S:  (missed catnap)
   E: 6:30pm
   S: 7:00pm

 14 Dec
 
   E/A: 7:30am
   S: 9:50am
   A: 11:00am
   E: 11:30am
   S: 1:45pm
   E/A: 3:30pm
   S: 5:30pm
   A: 6:00pm
   E: 7:00pm
   S: 7:30pm

 15 Dec (tried to stretch her A time out a bit more in the morning)
 
   E/A: 6:45am
   S: 9:25am
   A: 10:35am
   E: 11:00am
   S: 1:00pm
   E/A: 3:00pm
   S: 5:50pm
   A: 6:20pm
   E: 7:15pm
   S: 7:40pm

My mumma instincts are saying she is starting to get close to dropping a nap, but I wanted to see if you guys could help me work this out. She is also going through Leap 5 at the moment, so don't know if this could be a factor.

My questions:
* Should I start stretching her out to 3 hours A time now? Do you think she is ready for the 3-2 transition?
* In the 3-2 transition, can I do the CN on days that she can't stretch out long enough or is that confusing for babies?
* She is EBF and we haven't started solids yet- how do I fit the 4 feeds a day (excl dream feed) around my new naps? An example routine would be much appreciated!

TIA and sorry again for the long post!!

** Also to add- today I tried to stretch her two A times to almost 3 hours. First nap was 2 hrs and I had to wake her. She is currently doing her second nap and went down straight away...

[becj86]

Hi, welcome

You're spot on! I was nodding along as I was reading your post. She needs more A time and is coping well with 3hr from what you've written. Yes, you can throw in a CN if you need to but seems you might have a smooth transition.

You can BF when she wakes from naps and do a topup BF an hour later if you're worried she won't make it 5hr between feeds. Then as you introduce solids, you just replace a topup with solids and a drink. Some babies can do 4 feeds through the day with one when they wake for the day, one after each of two naps and one before bed.

[Hutchy4]

Thanks for such a quick reply! And the advice!

I'm glad I'm not misreading her signs. She is definitely grumpy at the end of the 2.75 and 3 hours but hopefully this will subside as she gets used to it.

Will let you know how it goes

[Hutchy4]

Thanks becj86! She has transitioned really well so far and we seem to have mostly dropped the CN!

Thanks for your help

[becj86]

Great news