How to move to a 4 hour feeding?

[harrisonsmom]

My lo is a big guy. He was 9.6 at birth and is 18 pounds 27 inches at 3 1/2 months old. He takes 6-7 oz per bottle. Sometimes he can make it til the 3 hour mark but many times it's 2 - 2 1/2 at best. I've tried using his paci or playing with him to distract him for a bit, but if he's really hungry, he will scream like a banchee. I don't know how in the world we will ever get to the 4 hour mark. I've tried upping the ounces to 8 per bottle but it seemed like it was too much and he would either have a hard tummy or spit it all up? Any advice?

[Jack and Cians mum]

Hi there, welcome to BW.

I cant be of much use here but i can completely relate to this.  My LO or should be big one is exactly the same as yours, he was 9.11 at birth and he is now 10 weeks old and putting on weight at approx 1lb a week and is currently 17lb and 28 inches long - god only knows what our boys are going to be like when they are fully grown!!!!!!!

Ive just started to increase to 6oz even 7oz for his first feed of the day and he can only go around 2.5/3 hours if that, so any advice would certainly be great.

Tracey

[HeatherC]

My first thought was how are his naps and night sleep?

[Jack and Cians mum]

My DS will have around 3/4 naps aday, ranging from 45 mins to 2 hours on a good one and he will be down to bed asleep at 8pm and last night slept til 5.30, normally it is 4am.  he will take a bottle and then go down til 8/9ish.  So overall he can sleep very well

Tracey

[rebecaq]

Hi Harrisonmom,

Big babies don't necessarily do things ahead of other babies. While most babies go to 4 hour EASY at 4 months, not all babies do so. They also have to be developmentally ready for it.....kinda like sleeping through the night. I defintiely think he is not reasy for more formula and you shoud keep the bottles at 6-7 ounces. Try to get him until 3 hours by having a real low key activity from the 2.5 hour point on, I'm sure little by little he'll make it to 3 hours.

Read our FAQ'S for the time to transition post so when he is ready to move up in routine time you'll know 

- Beca

[HeatherC]

I had asked about the naps b/c when my ds was doing short naps (sometimes still does  ) it was frustrating to tell if he was just tired or really hungry, or getting hungry from being upset from being tired.  Whoo-it can be an ordeal.  I totally agree with Beca.

[harrisonsmom]

Except for today for some reason.....   My little guy generally takes his naps well and will sleep any where from 1 hour (usually) to 1 1/2 (on a good day.) His activity time in the morning after waking is about an hour. Later in the day, he can go about 1 1/2 to 2  hours awake.  He goes to bed around 7:00pm (most of the time passes right out) and half the time will sleep til 7:00am.  The other times will wake at 4 or 5 am. Any thoughts as to why he seems to need/want more food before the 3 hour mark during the day?