I guess this isn't so much 4.5 hour EASY, but 4.5 hour spaced feedings question.
My LO is nearly 19 weeks old and has been on 4 hour EASY since about 12 weeks old. We pretty much jumped from 3 hour EASY to 4 hour EASY at that time really quickly. Didn't even need the 3.5 hour transition as he was ready.
We recently figured out he has reflux so have been dealing with that and he's been having a lot of trouble with taking his bottles, and lots of pain with eating, constipation, vomiting, etc. Happily, the last couple of days he seems to be ready to eat again! However, I'm noticing that he'll take his bottle MUCH better if I space them at 4.5 hours rather than 4 hours. At 4 hours he pulls away from the bottle, plays with the nipple, etc. At 4.5 hours he drinks easily and happily like he used to before the reflux became so terrible.
I'm asking this question to find out if this is a natural thing that babies do - extend eating time again to 4.5 hours - or if this is just something he's doing because of the reflux. Maybe his tummy pain makes him need more time to digest his food? We aren't doing any cereals or solids yet, so I find it strange he is not hungrier sooner as he's a pretty large lad - about 18 lbs right now. He was taking about 32-34 oz per day before the reflux got so bad. Now I'm lucky to get 30 oz down him, and some days as little as 25 oz.
Just would like to hear if spacing feedings farther apart is a natural transition as tracy's books don't really talk about what happens after 4 hour EASY, especially BEFORE you start solids.
