dreamfeed question

[lilapple]

can someone please explain to me why it is thought that the dreamfeed causes more night time wakings?  I don't understand the logic behind that===don't we dreamfeed to help them sleep through and not wake hungry?   My lo is 8 mos and I am still dreamfeeding.  I have mixed thoughts about stopping---she feeds so well is one reason (bf) because of minimal distractions, and I'm not sure how to stop, because I'm already cluster feeding  (all this because I was noticing she was not bfing as much and I want her to bf as main source of nutrition till 1 year at least--I also cut back a bit on solids to ensure this) so I'm not sure where to put in that extra feeding time during the day.  That said, and though I enjoy the time with her, it would be nice to have freedom to go out at night.  But, she is waking at around 3 or so occasionally and always at 5 or 6.  I'm not sure what's going on ---but I've read posts where people say the df causes night wakings and I would like to know how that is??

[teezee]

i can't give you any specific reasons why - but i think it that at a certain age they just grow out of it. when they are little, their tummies are little and they can't hold enough food to sustain them through the night.  the df gives parents a chance to get some extra rest and deal with one less waking  . once they get to be a certain age/size (different for all lo's) they don't need it anymore as their bellies have grown and they can handle longer periods without food.  i think once that poiint comes, it causes them more wakings b/c it is a stirring that they don't need. i know my lo would also take a full df (more than the rest of the day) and i thought she wasn't ready to be off of it but when nothing else helped completely solve the night waking issue, i tried cutting it out cold turkey one day and it worked - not sure i would suggest to everyone to just cut it out like that or wean gradually but it is definately worth a try.
i also want to point out that cluster feeding is also meant for a small infant.  an older baby wouldn't necessarily being getting 'more out of' cluster feeding than having a regular 4 hr routine with feedings 4 hrs apart, their bellies can hold more, and if they wait longer between feedings can actually hold more at this point, to last them longer.
i guess  you can try and stop it - and if it doesn't work go right back to what you are doing now - no harm done.  it may be one thing, it may be a combination of things - you will only know if you try    could you post your routine?? my lo's routine at 8 months went something like this - 8am nurse after 1/2 hr solids, 12-12:30 nurse after 1/2 hr solids, 4:30nurse after 1/2 hr solids, 8 nurse & bed. i too at one point was feeding my lo too much solids and it was affecting her bm intake bigtime - i also realized with my nosy lo that i have to feed her immediately pretty much when she wakes, before she has a chance to see anyone else but me so she will not be at all distracted.

[Kimberly®]

for some LO's a dreamfeed causes more wakings  for many reasons. f you have a LO with a sensative tummy it could be gas, some its an interuption in there sleep that causes it.

In our case we dropped the dreamfeed because our LO started waking at about 4am everynight soaked through, we dropped the feed and now she makes it till morning again.

While a dreamfeed works for many LO's it doesn't work for all of them. Chances are as much as it pains anyone to hear, it may be time for you to stop. I also suggest you be very carefull holding back solids, it can be harmfull if they're not getting enough. It may be that your LO isn't getting what she needs during the day, calorie wise, and thats why she's waking. Make sure your not breastfeeding enough that she's not getting the solids she needs that in the long run can cause more problems then it solves.By 8-9 months most LO's get the nutrients they need through a good balance of solids and breastmilk or formula. In some countries they encourage weaning to start at 9 months.  By 12 months most LO are on whole milk and solids. Breastmilk can still be given though I'm not sure how it works. I understand the desire to feed long term, I'd recomend you go to the breastfeeding forum to get more advice.  
I suspect however your LO needs more daytime calories and thats why she's waking.
How many feeds does she get a day?
How many solids?

My LO for example gets 3 meals a day, we bottlefeed but its simaller to breastfeeding for introducing solids.
she gets a 8-9oz bottle at 7
4 oz of oat cerial mixed with 2 oz of fruit at 8
4 oz veggies, 2 oz fruit at 11-12(depending on when her nap ends)
8-9oz bottle at 3-4(depending on last meal)
4oz barly or rice cereal mixed with 2oz veggies, or 4oz of meat and vegie mix and 2 oz of fruit.
8-9 oz bottle at 6:30 right before bed.
keep in mind thats a lot, however each baby is different in their needs for solids make sure you ajust the food to what your LO needs. Mine started solids at 5 months do to a lack of weight gain and is about a month ahead in amounts. My neighbor has an 8 month old, his eating is the same as my DD (she's the one who taught me, this is her second child) the only difference is that his solid meals are more then my DD.

I do realise that this wont work for everyone. Its a matter of balance, you don't want to loose your supply, but you also want to make sure your LO gets the solids they need and also gets the breastmilk they need. I hope this makes sence.

HTH