How can I extend time between waking with a breastfed partial co-sleeping baby?

[sssheri]

DD is 3 months. We figured out that our baby was fussy at night because she needed an earlier bedtime. She used to stay up until 9 and I would nurse/ carry her to sleep, put her in the co-sleeper and then go to bed myself. She would usually wake up around 4 hours later to nurse and I would take her in bed with me for the rest of the night. That worked out well and everyone got enough sleep.

Now we are putting her to bed around 7 and she goes to sleep much easier and is less fussy. I go to bed about an hour or two after we put her down, nurse her in her sleep and put her back in the co-sleeper. Now she waking up 2 hours after putting her down instead of the 4 she used to. I don't sleep as well with her next to me all night and I have returned to work, so this isn't working. 

Anyone have any experience, tips, advice, with extending the time between feedings? We swaddle and have tons of white noise. 

[Louisep]

It's probably not what you want to hear, but I'm not sure there's anything you can do; at least I never figured it out. Your baby may be going through a growth spurt and nursing more frequently, or missing you during the day while you're at work and catching up on mama time at night. Waking every 2 hours was normal for us. The only thing that helped me was the family bed. I couldn't sleep while nursing, but I felt more rested than when I would get up and but DS back in the cosleeper. Focus on figuring out a solution that lets you get the most sleep rather than trying to change the baby's sleep patterns. 2 years into our sleep adventures, I have found sleep strategies make little impact but my efforts to try just made me crazy.

[carmen358]

DD wasn't ready for an earlier bedtime until about 5 or 6 months I think. 3 months was a growth spurt time for her too.

[SeekingJoy]

Does trying to cluster feed her right before you put her down help?