However, by 4 months, babies are gradually able to transition into longer wake/activity periods, as well as eat less frequently – around every 4 hours. Eventually, by getting baby used to eating every 4 hours, you’re also setting her up for an easier transition to sleep through the night.

Noob Baby, also known as Her Chunkiness, didn’t exactly appreciate a sudden transition into eating every 4 hours vs. every 3. Silly me. I forgot to reveal my plans to her. So, we called together a G4 type summit, and came to an agreement.

We would slowly drag out the time between her feedings each day (tacking on a few extra minutes). After she *dinged* the big 4 (months that is), we began the transition. 3 hours became 3 hrs. 10 min. Then 3 1/4 hrs. 3 1/2 hrs. etc.

At last, she was eating approx. every 4 hours (give or take a few days where I assume she was going through a growth spurt). Her E.A.S.Y. routine looked similar to this example from Secrets of the Baby Whisperer:

4-Hour E.A.S.Y.

E – 7:00 – Wake up and feed
A – 7:30
S – 9:00 (1 1/2-2 hr nap)
Y – Blog Time (I mean … your time!)

E – 11:00
A – 11:30
S – 1:00 (1 1/2-2 hrs)
Y – Party (I mean … take a shower and get out of jammies!)

E – 3:00
A – 3:30
S – Catnap between 5 -6 pm
Y – Really, peel yourself off the computer now so Noob Daddy doesn’t think you’ve been web surfing all day!

E – 7:00 (cluster feed at 7 and 9 pm if going through a growth spurt)
A – Bath
S – 7:30 Bedtime
Y – Chest bump Noob Daddy. Then, catch up on Google Reader, CNN, Facebook, Twitter and a little thing called WoW

E – 11:00 Dream Feed (until 7 or 8 months, or whenever solids are firmly established)

As for us, the Dream Feed never really worked. Noob Baby seemed to wake up at least once at night despite our efforts to pull a fast one on her. Luckily, that changed with our sleep training efforts.

A Ferber follow up post to come soon!