Dream feeding

[babyscotcher]

Wondering if anyone can give me their advice or experiences with dream feeding.

The last week my LO seems to have slipped back to waking up at 2am, 5am and then up at 8am having previously slept until about 4am. He is nearly 4 months so could be the natural sleep regression but need to find ways to start getting him to sleep through again.

He goes to bed between 8 and 9 and although I usually go to bed around 10ish I am usually not asleep until around 11.30pm. I have been thinking if it could be worth feeding him before I go to sleep to hopefully push his pattern back again as don't want the 2am wake up to become a habit. Wondered if this is worth doing. I had got so used to not being woken until about 4am and then him sleeping again until 9am that this change in pattern has knocked me for 6.

Any advice welcome. X

 

[buttonbear]

I dreamfeed LO and it seems to work great, she goes to sleep at 9 I dreamfeed her when I go to bed at around 11ish and that's her till morning.

Only reason I chose to dreamfeed as she was going all night and I worried as she is exclusively breastfed she was going too long between feeds not to get more sleep etc. If she wakes for food or even just a cuddle she needs it etc

 

[Cakey]

I gave my LB a dream feed around 11 and he used to go until 4/5 which was great also they're so adorable when they're asleep but feeding! Give it a go, it might work x

 

[kumber]

Dream feeding never worked for us as ds1 wakes up as soon as he's moved. I wish it had worked but no such luck, hope it works for you!

 

[Orion]

We always dream feed at around midnight (when OH goes to bed). And let baby wake us in the night if he needs feeding. Sometimes that's at 3am, sometimes 6! But it feels like we only get up once or none (as I'd just get up with him at 6).

 

[Smileygirl]

Dream feeding worked a treat for us. We gave him a bottle at 11pm just before we went to bed and then he slept through until 7am x

 

[babyscotcher]

Might give it a go tonight and see how it goes. When he is waking up at 2am he is hungry so hopefully if I fill him up around midnight he won't wake up quite so soon. X

 

[Orion]

Good luck. I hope it goes well

I've found going to bed at 11 or 12 after a feed, then sleeping til 5 or 6, feels much better than going to bed at 10, waking at 2, waking again at 6. It's personal preference though.

 

[babyscotcher]

I agree Orion. I struggle to get to sleep as well no matter how tired I might be and hear Lo as soon as he starts to stir. X

 

[Belfa]

As Kumber said, LO wakes up at midnight now for his "dream" feed which he's actually awake for and expects now! Hope it works for you x

 

[littlemonkey]

Personally I didn't bother with dream feeding. My eldest was always fab at night and I was worried about doing anything that would make him worse in the long run.

If it's only been a couple of nights and your LO has previously been going through before hand, I'd ride it out and see if they settle down. If it is the sleep regression as painful as it is you need to let him figure it out himself. If you keep helping him to sleep at this stage it can make other worse in the long run.

Touch wood I've not struggled too much with either of mine at four months. My eldest was in his own room by then though which I think made a huge difference, I didn't get woken up by him unless he was properly kicking off wanting fed.

 

[littlemonkey]

Also perhaps try feeding him more in the day, either larger or more frequent feeds.

 

[Orion]

If the baby is waking for a feed at 1 or 2 am then I don't think dream feeding at midnight is going to cause a dependency. You're simply feeding them before they wake up screaming, which I've also read is something to avoid if possible as they then associate comfort and food.

If the baby isn't hungry, they won't eat it, whether half asleep or not.

 

[Anna.Femm]

We dream-fed a few times during the last month and only because LO refused to take a bottle. He didn't know what to do with it so he was just rubbing his gums on the teat instead of sucking, but he did take it while asleep. After doing this 3-4 times, he started accepting the bottle while he was awake too and then I could finally stop breastfeeding and he would get enough food to stop him waking up every 2-3 hours during the night.

 

[babyscotcher]

Didn't try dream feeding last night as fell asleep myself at 10pm. Funny enough tho he didn't wake until 3am and only took 4oz and went back to sleep until 8. Might give it a couple of days to see if he sorts himself out before I try feeding him before I go to bed. X

 

[Glitter2707]

Dreamfeeding worked well with my little girl - without it she would wake up around 4/5am (from 8pm feed night before) then we started dream feeding at 10.30/11 and it was enough of a top up to see her through till 7am. We did it until she was 7 months & eating some solids, had no issues with stopping x

 

[babyscotcher]

Well dream fed him at 11pm. Let's see what happens. X

 

[babyscotcher]

Well that was a waste of time. He woke up at 2.30. Took 4oz of a bottle and then threw it up all over me and now won't go back to sleep. Loosing the will to live with it all at the minute as he was so good and slept till 4am most nights until about 10 days ago. I know he is going through a bit of a growth spurt as he put on 1lb3oz in 2 weeks but still doesn't seem enough to cause all these sleep issues.

Tried controlled crying earlier for his nap at 4.30 which didn't work so after an hour we bought him back downstairs and he fell asleep 10 minutes later in his swing. I have never know a small baby to fight sleep so much.

Sorry just needed to rant at 3am as there is obviously no one to talk to at this time. It is nights like this where I wish my OH would wake up in the night occasionally. X

 

[buttonbear]

Controlled crying won't work, especially for such a young little thing I wont say more on it as I truly hate it and don't want to cause arguments but just maybe research it and Cio and the awful effects it has on a baby?!

They are ap so small and just want mummy and cuddles sometimes I know its hard when you're tired but honestly they are only this small and want snuggles for so long and you will wish for it again. Baby is also going though the 4 month sleep regression now I bet which is a HUGE developmental leap as well so that will soon pass. Just give him time and comfort

 

[Belfa]

If he's finishing a bottle at that time in the morning he probably needs it. I was told that in the olden days ( I don't know how far going back so I do t want to offend if it was only 10yrs ago lol) if you fed water in the early hours then baby will eventually work out that it's not worth waking up for x