When to Move to a Four Hour Schedule

What is a four hour schedule, and how do I know when my baby is ready for it?

For the first few months of your baby’s life, they will likely eat every 3 hours and take a nap every 1-1.5 hours, which is known as the “3 hour schedule”. However, as your baby gets older, they will start to stay awake longer between naps, as well as go longer between feedings - about 4 hours. At this point, your baby will move to what is called a “4 hour schedule”.

In my courses, I suggest moving to a 4 hour schedule around 12 weeks, but I also let you know that there is no rush and it’s important to wait until your baby is ready before switching to a longer schedule.

So, how do you know when your baby is ready? There are 3 things to look for.

  1. Baby’s age. Make sure baby is at least 12 weeks old and growing properly.

  2. Hunger cues. Is your baby turning away from feedings at the 3 hour mark now? They might not be hungry at 3 hours anymore, which can indicate they are ready.

  3. Sleepy cues. Is your baby taking a long time to fall asleep for naps after 1-1.5 hours? This could be a sign they are ready to stay awake closer to 2 hours.

Once your baby shows these signs, you can slowly and gently start making the transition to a 4 hour schedule. My method teaches you exactly how to do it:)

HAPPY SLEEPING!

Jessalyn