4 hour Easy = 5 or 6 bottles

[kellyhushhh]

Hello my ds is 4 months on the 4th October and i want to change him to the four hour easy.

 He currently feeds at approx 7,10,1, 4 and 7 plus dream feed. So he is having 6 bottles. 

Now for the four hour easy it would be 7,11,3,7 plus dream feed so he would be having 5 bottles.

However....... how come on page 96 chart Tracy says that they should be having 5 bottles plus dream feed? How can you give five feeds if going every four hours and starting day at 7am and going to bed at 7pm?

Also i have a feeling ds will not take anymore ounces than usual even though going that extra hour  . So really he will probably be down a whole feed and will probably start waking in the night. He currently has 6 ounces each feed so 36 ounces.

Anyone else had this problem. I know he can defintaely go four hours as i did it a few weeks ago but he wasnt ready so went back to three hours.

Hope someone can help me please.

Kelly xxx

[Noelle]

Hi,
I'm at work so don't have the book in front of me.  I'm thinking she is including a clusterfeed, adding that extra bottle?

I don't quite remember if the actual intake of ounces was less once we went to the four hour.  Just make sure that if he is draining each bottle to add an ounce or two in case he wants it. 

Here are some signs of needing to transition:
1. Not taking as much at a feed (baby not as hungry at 3 hours)
2. Erratic Night Wakings
3. They are extending their awake times
4. Starts taking 45 minute naps

I would recommend slowly increasing her awake time, you can also check out this link:
http://babywhisperer.com/forum/3-4hr-transition-plan-on-page-230-vt41061.html

Expect the days to vary at first. For example, some days she might go 3.5...other times 4.

HTH...let us know if you have further questions!!

[kellyhushhh]

Hi Noelle.
That link you gave me was my post from a while ago when i was going to do the transition but he wasnt ready so i left it.

He was waking erraticly last week but has started sleeping through again until 7am. He isnt taking 45 min naps, he is however not as interested in his bottle as he used to be.

Should i still put him on four hour routine. What if he wont take any more ounces?? I was considering starting him on baby rice, what do you think? shall i wait until he is 6 months?

Kelly xx

[Noelle]

That link you gave me was my post from a while ago when i was going to do the transition but he wasnt ready so i left it.

LOL, and great advice it was!!! 

If your ticker is right...he's just about 4 months?  I would wait at least a couple of weeks on the solids, they recommend 6months.  I did 4 with both of mine, John was fine but I should have waited with Zoe.  It's a personal preference.  Does he show signs of wanting them?

I would say to go ahead and start moving towards the four hour, just like your post.  But be prepared, everyday varies and you still need to watch cues.  Some days he might go 3.15, others 4, others 3.5 

I don't remember if John or zoe took actual more ounces when I switched...luckily there never was a problem.  The 4 month mark seems to be one for bumps...maybe the reason for erratic wakings last week..any new developments/milestones on the horizon 

[shem2005]

I read that in the BW book as well. I think it is wrong. They should be having 4 during the day plus the dreamfeed. That is what she states throughout the book but for some reason on that one page she says 5 + the dreamfeed.

[mlhy]

Have no fears about five or six bottles. If it's a 4 hour schedule that's 5 bottles (and then if the baby wants more in the night you can give it). There are several discrepancies in the book and I chalk that up to publishing it in a hurry. I'm sure in her last days Tracy did her best and may not have felt at her finest, nor had the strength to cross reference all the stuff. This happens several times so trust yourself.

I wouldn't recommend solids before 5.5 months (personal preference and also the trend in pediatricians today). Keep up the good work!

I also find my baby sleeps longer if I don't do the dream feed, let her wake up in the night and nurse. She then doesn't have a 4 and a 7-8 hour stretch but two medium length ones. It seems to cause her to sleep more deeply in the second half of the night.

marni

[kellyhushhh]

Thank you both for your replies.

Marni.... there are quite a lot of mistakes and contradictions in the book, i think you are right, Tracy must have been very tired and like you say the book got rushed. I am tempted some nights to skip the Dream feed and see what happens, i may give it a go but i dont think it will be succesful   I will hold off on the solids as well, like you, no one else has advised it yet so i will wait.

Thanks again xx