What to do?

[soelimama]

Hi to all!!!
We've had a very bumpy ride these past few weeks.  LO is nearly 4m (adjusted age is 3).  He seems to be in transition from 3hr EASY to a 3.5.  My question is this:  What is th eappropriate time for A when on a 3.5 EASY? 
A normal day looks like this:\
E: 7
A:7:20-8:15 or 8:30
S:8:30-10:30

then 3.5 for the rest of day-some days he needs feeding earlier.  The tricky part of the day is from 4 pm on.  He often fights the catnap. Any suggestions?

[Missy Lou]

can LO last 3.5 hours between feeds?  that's the biggest reason to switch.

if so, i'd go with the average A time based on LO adjusted age - an hour, 20 minutes to 1.5 hours.  my LO was 3 weeks early and at first i didn't think it made a difference but then i noticed that she couldn't stay up the average A time for other babies her age. 

i could post some sample routines for you if that would help.  but i would shoot for an hour, 20 minutes, 1.5 hours of A time.  fighting the catnap may be because he's overtired.  if you wanted, you could also post LO's routine and we'll take a look.
Melissa

[soelimama]

Yes Lo can go 3.5 most of the time.  Today he woke up at 6:30 ate at 6:50 and was awake until 8:15.  He then slept until 10:45 and ate again.  He did pretty much the same thing yesterday.  He will not eat before four hours for the second feeding!  But then he is back to 3.5 for the rest of the day.  so a typical day right now looks like this:
A: 6:30
E:6:45/7:00
A:7-8:15/8:30
S:8:30-11:00

E:11
A;11:20-12:30
S:12;30-2:30

E:2:30
A:2;50-4
S;4-5

This is where I get confused... Do I let him sleep longer or is this the catnap stage?

I usually will bathe him and then feed him by 6 and he is a royal grump until bed at 6:45/7:00.  I try to feed him at this point , but he usually won't take a full feed and then the night seems to get screwy.  A dream feed is usually not a true dream feed because he awakens hungry at 10 pm.  I feed him and he usually goes about 5 hours and then eats again. 

[Missy Lou]

the 4-5 nap is the catnap.  i wouldn't let him sleep more than that hour.  he's probably grumpy because he's overtired if he's been up for almost 2 hours.  also, i notice with my LO she won't eat if she's overtired. 

if he gets up at 6:30, i'd shoot for a 6:30 bedtime.  so after he gets up at 5 from the catnap, I'd bathe him, feed him, cuddle, and have him drowsy and calm and in bed for 6:30.
melissa