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Offline ireneasheard

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Dropping the dreamfeed
« on: November 30, 2016, 12:23:53 pm »
Hi all

I have an almost 8 month old who is on 3 meals a day and still having 4 breastfeeds a day (1 of which is a dreamfeed). Our routine is going well, the introduction of solids at 6 months was an easy one (pardon the pun) and my little one took to solids and has not looked back. Currently things are going well with our routine but I am wondering when to drop the dreamfeed given that he is on 3 solid meals a day. When he feeds it is a reasonable feed and he does not reject it. My eldest I dropped this feed at 7 months but he was still taking a feed before bedtime (so still 4 feeds) and he also started to flat out reect the dreamfeed (whereas my 2nd boy is not doing this - he instead went and dropped the feed before bed and basically consolidated afternoon and evening feeds) so I'm thinking I might start to offer feed before bedtime again and try to drop the dreamfeed? Thoughts welcome. I am reluctant to drop the dreamfeed as I don't want my son to drop milk feeds too quickly so this is not an issue with our overall routine per se.

Irene
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Offline Lindsay27

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2016, 13:59:54 pm »
I never did the DF with my DD, but around 8 months we dropped to 3 daily feeds, which ensured the the BT bottle was nice and big to sustain her through the night.  So our feeds were 7am - 2/2:30pm - 7pm.  If he's not taking a feed before bed then yes it does sound like he's just replaced the BT feed with the DF.  I'd probably try to reinstate the BT one and skip/wean the DF.
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Offline ireneasheard

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2016, 23:06:32 pm »
Hmmm maybe I need to rethink the afternoon feed then? I'm still offering milk before food as my son is only 8 months so the timing of feed being offered is something to think about. The afternoon feed generally been around 3-4 or 5 even so maybe look at pushing it later and bringing his dinner forward before 6pm? BT is 7pm.
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Offline Lindsay27

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2016, 00:36:39 am »
This is how I usually arranged it:

7am - bottle
8/8:30 - breakfast
12pm - lunch
2:30pm - bottle
5/5:30 - dinner
7pm - bottle
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Offline Lindsay27

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2016, 00:40:13 am »
Geez, sorry...I didn't realize this post was on the BF board, so I assume you are BFing?  Someone else might have better advice since I was formula feeding so I'm not sure if the arrangement of the day would be the same.  I think BF babies might tend to hang onto 4 feeds a little longer.
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Offline ireneasheard

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2016, 13:18:02 pm »
Yes am bfing. How long? Just deciding what to do. ..
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Offline *Ali*

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2016, 23:12:19 pm »
It's much more common for BF babies to be on at least 4 daytime feeds until closer to a year.  Some might might drop to 3 earlier around 10mo but I think 8mo is probably too early. This is because it is harder for a BF baby to get all the calories they need in as few feeds as babies drinking from a bottle.  Milk (breast of formula) should form the main part of the diet until 12mo.

I'd definitely offer a BT feed.
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Offline ireneasheard

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2016, 13:13:09 pm »
Continuing the DF but reintroduced BT feed. Going well, babe has reduced DF. Will keep DF for a while longer :-)
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Offline *Ali*

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2016, 22:46:36 pm »
Sounds like a good plan.
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Offline ireneasheard

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2016, 08:52:35 am »
Reintroduced the bed time feed successfully. This seems to be edging out the dream feed. Last few nights babe has not really wanted much of the dream feed.
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Offline *Ali*

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Re: Dropping the dreamfeed
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2016, 12:53:41 pm »
If LO is still making it until the next feed then it sounds like it's all going well.
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