Question about 3.5 hr EASY?

[SarahMksm]

Okay, so, I have some questions about going to a 3.5hr EASY routine.  I think that we're ready to transition, as we're having some of the problems listed with remaining on a 3hr routine--she's waking up all night to feed, she'll only take tiny little 5-minute feeds during the day.  However, I don't think she's quite ready for the 4hr EASY, because she can't really stay up for 2 hours at a time yet.

So, I was looking at sample EASY plans, but I'm confused.  If she's on a 3.5hr EASY, if she staying awake for 2 hours and sleeping for 1.5, or staying awake for 1.5 hours and sleeping for two, or 1.75 hours each?  Or what?

I saw this sample EASY plan on the boards:

3.5-hour EASY:

E: 7.00 wake up and feed
A: 7.30 or 7.45 (depending on how long feed takes)
S: 8.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 10.30
A: 11.00 or 11.15
S: 12.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 2.00
A: 2.30 or 2.45
S: 3.30 (1.5hr nap)
Y: your choice
E: 5.30 feed
A: inc. bath time
E: 7.00/7.30 (cluster feed)
S: 7.30/8pm bedtime
Y: the evening is yours
E: 10 or 11pm dreamfeed

What I don't get is, it lists each of the naps at 1.5 hours, and yet it'll have a sleep at 8:30 and the feed at 10:30... which is two hours.  Or, if that really means to sleep at 8:30 and wake at 10, then wait until 10:30 for the feeding... but then that would mean going from 10 to 12:30 before the next nap, which is way too long.

Going by the times, rather than the length of nap labels, it looks as though the schedule calls for 1.5 hours of active time, 2 hours nap, 2 hours active time, 1.5 hours nap, 1.5 hours active time, 2 hours nap... which sorta makes sense, alternating long awake times with long nap times.  Is that what it should be?

[hatshetsut]

The first A time of the day tends to be the shortest, so 1.5 hours might be about right. In the beginning it might be more like 1.5 hours of A time, and gradually go to 2 hours of A time before your ready to go to a 4 hour EASY.

[*Carrie*]

Hi, I'm glad someone asked about that 3.5 hr plan because I was similarly confused. The plan says sleep at 8.30 amd for an hour and a half but feed at 10.30am - does that mean you should wake them but delay the feed for 30 minutes??

I'm considering trying to make the transition but my lo (now 15 weeks) has begun to be able to nap past the 45 min mark and now seems to NEED his sleep. Before he was waking too early and I was stringing him out until the 3 hour mark (which he could easily do and actually never seemed VERY hungry) so his actvity time was easily more than an hour and a half. Now, however, he is sleeping longer naps but only able to stay awake about an hour and a quarter before showing tired signs! Feel like we are going backwards!  (Should add that he is sleeping through from 8.30pm until 7.10am so I'm really happy about that and don't want to do anythig to jeopardise that!)

Any ideas?
Carrie

[hatshetsut]

If the night sleep is ok, I wouldn't mess with much! It could be a growth spurt, those can make them more sleepy.