How can a 4hour EASY change nightwakings? Why?

[Elphyrafire]

I was just reading the post in the EASY forum that said signs your baby needs a transition to 4 hour are:

not as hungry at 3 hours
freq night wakings
45 min naps
etc.

This is my 4 1/2 mons old to a tee! But my question is WHY? How can feeding him less make him wake less at night and take longer naps? I always thought  packing more calories in in the day would help . Obviously it has not helped up since we wake up 6 times a night so I will try anything!
What is the "science" behind it?
Thanks, Ella

[KellyC]

Hi

There are 2 things here, firstly if your LO isn't having enough A time then he/she won't be tired enough to take a long nap so this is where the 45 minute naps can come into play - this can lead to night wakings if your LO is getting too much or too little daytime sleep.  With regards to the feeding, your LO will take on more calories if he/she is actually hungry for a full feed.  We started to experience this at around 3.5/4 months with Zander when instead of having a good breastfeed every 3 hours he would just play about and have a small feed (in other words he'd snack).  By stretching out his feeds he took in more breastmilk because he actually needed to be fed at that point.

I don't think I've explained that very well - I hope it makes sense!

Kelly x

[katrinabull]

It works! My angel/textbook little boy, Sjoerd has slept through since 11 weeks, which is good for a breastfed baby. Then at 17 weeks he started to wake at night for a whole week. I was shattered and didn't know what to do - so I logged onto the site and saw the same thing: feed him LESS and move his routine. Anyway, we made the transition over 10 days to a 3.5/4 hour routine and the day I started, and he took one feed less, he slept through that night and has done so since. He is now 22 weeks. He actually pays attention at his feeds - before he was always looking around, grabbing things: he wasn't hungry enough.

It may sound strange, but it works: thanks SO much for this site and for keeping Tracey's legacy going!!

 

[Elphyrafire]

Thanks ladies,
Kelly, I totally understand as that what DS was doing before a few days ago when I changed to 4 hours. I thought my milk supply was dwindling and he couldn't get any out because he was fussing around on the breast so much- even biting me sometimes. Now I realize that he wasn't hungry. However, now he's on the 4 hour and at least he eats for what seems his full feed. ANd the he stops and burps. I can tell this was a good choice for us.
I was just wondering how that worked and I think I get it now. He's eating less times in the day but probably swallowing more milk.

Thanks again, Ella

[Mekaeels_Mummy]

I have a question.. my LO is 13 weeks and 2 days.. is it too early to start the 4 hour routine.. he is approximately 15 pounds and is have increasing night wakings, working on extending his naps and he can definitely go longer than 3 hours ( i have been testing him out!). He has been on EASY from day one and was doing great except for a couple of weeks ago started waking up frequently at night time.

[Elphyrafire]

Hi there- I hope a moderator will jump in but i have to say in hindsight i wish i started my ds on the 4 hour easy at 14 weeks when he started all the nightwakings and 45 min naps. I just didn't know better b/c i hadn't read the BW yet. Now I've spent nearly 2 months trying to undo it. There is a post in teh EASY forum with all the signs of when to start the 4 hour EASY- I think it's a post near the top. good luck!

[teezee]

you know your lo best and if you think you should try transitioning now then do so! if it isn't working you can always go back kwim? just be sure to go slowly adding time every few days, watching for cues, etc..good luck!