Timing of `dinner' solids and late afternoon catnap on EASY

[KylieD]

I've been following the EASY plan since dd was 8wks old (she's now 6mths) and it's been working very well. I introduced solids about 4wks ago and she's having lunch and dinner plus 4 bottles and dream feed. But with the dinner solids I find it hard at times to fit everything in without her getting grizzly. I've been trying to get her to have a late afternoon catnap around 5pm as per the EASY 4-hr routine. So that's followed by solids and then bath and then bottle. But sometimes if the day gets mucked up a bit she may miss this catnap and then gets tired and grizzy so it's hard to fit in the solids and everything else.

Just wondering what others do? When do they stop having this late afternoon catnap? Her days sleeps are 9-11am and 1-3pm. cheers 

[GraceKellysmom]

You could either just do one solids meal until she drops the cat nap or try breakfast instead? My ds was fed meals only if he was awake with the rest of us until about 9-10 months and then I started getting him more on the "three meals a day" thing. I just tried to be flexible until then. HTH

[Paulsmama]

Hi, DS is 6.5 mos and we are just doing breakfast and supper.  His supper is before his late afternoon catnap, we tried offering it after but then he was mad it was not a bottle.  So, our afternoon usually goes:

3:30 wake up from nap and bottle
4:30 solids
5:30-6 (ish) catnap 30-45 min
7:00 evening bottle
7:30/8 asleep

When he drops the catnap we'll probably move the solids to 5:30 or so.

[KylieD]

Thanks so much for replying. I think I may try feeding her before her catnap then as Paulsmama does and see how that goes. Otherwise I will try doing breakfast and lunch instead. Thanks again 

[Zarabelle]

Hi Kylie

My DD is 6 months old and she has sleeps at this is her routine:

7am wake
7.30am bottle - drinks about 6oz max
8am - breakfast (weetabix etc.)
9-11am - sleep
11am - bottle (drinks about 4oz)
12 noon - lunch (protein, veg and fruit)
12.45 - 14.30 - sleep
15.00 - bottle (drinks about 4oz)
16.30-17.00 - nap
17.15 - dinner (protein and veg)
18.20 - bath
18.45 - story and then bottle (6.5oz)
19.00 - bed until 7am

I find the sleep at 16.30 really helps - it's only 30 mins but keeps her going for dinner, bath etc.

x

[bsparki73]

Hi everyone,
I'm so glad I read this thread! Oscar is nearly 6 months & I too have been confused about the late catnap....some saying don't put them down after 4pm but he would just never make it through & enjoy his dinner/bathtime! Today he woke from a 2 hour (miracle!) nap at 3.15 & there's no way he can be awake for 4 hours so thanks for reassuring me that a late catnap is still the way to go! I'm guessing he'll go down at about 5pm (I'm currently trying to stretch his awake time to 1 & 3/4 hours...).
We started solids a few weeks ago & he is loving them....he was still really on a 3 hr EASY but as I said I'm trying to increase to 3 & 1/2. I get a bit confused when to give meals/milk but I'm sure we'll work it out!
Sophie

[me and bean]

hey kylie

i was wondering about this also.  my lo is also 6 months and eating 3 solid meals a day.  he has 4 breastfeeds, and has dropped his dreamfeed.  i am currently giving him solids an hour after each bf.  so, at 8am, 12noon & 4pm.

when he drops the late arvo catnap, i think i will move his 4pm solid feed to that time, usually somewhere between 5 & 6.