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EAT => Feeding Solid Food => Topic started by: Linda74 on December 07, 2005, 21:07:11 pm

Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Linda74 on December 07, 2005, 21:07:11 pm
Hi

My lo is almost 7 months old and I want to drop his 11pm df.  He usually wakes around this time to eat, so do I do pu/pd to get him back to sleep?  He doesn't take the bottle and is somewhat successful with the sippy.  When I do drop the df, I should probably up his calories during the day right?  Or is there another way I could use to get him back to sleep...he doesn't take the paci either...he's a thumb sucker.

Thanks,
Linda
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: janet&p on December 09, 2005, 11:27:07 am
My dd is 10.5 months and I was so ready to drop that annoying dream feed.  I hacked it out until dd turned 8 mths.  Then dd started to wake at 5.30am. 

My suggestion is to cut back the time by 15 mins for a few nights (or even longer, say a week). Keep cutting the times back until you feel lucky enough to stop.

I did this and got stuck on 9.15pm or about two weeks.  After those early mornings I was just so nervous about a habit forming.  Then I got to 8.45 and stopped.

My dd continues to this day to wake at 5.15 - 5.30am but we just listen until I really need to go in.  (I even tried the feed and go back to bed thing, but dd rarely slept again).

I'd definately say up the calories during the day.

Good luck with it all.
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom on December 09, 2005, 13:52:34 pm
Tracy suggests weaning the df gradually.  For example, if you are currently feeding 6 oz. at 11 pm, move that to 5 oz. at 10:30 pm, and add one ounce to his first daytime bottle.  Do that for 3 days.  Then, drop the df bottle to 4 oz. at 10 pm, and add the dropped ounce to his second daytime bottle.  Do that for 3 days.  Then drop the df bottle to 3 oz at 9:30 pm, and add the dropped ounce to his afternoon bottle.  Do that for 3 days.  Then drop the df bottle to 2 oz. at 9 pm, and add the dropped ounce to his bedtime bottle.  Do that for 3 days.  Then you should be able to drop the 2 oz df entirely.

I did this with my ds, and it worked pretty well.  I did do the 2 oz df for longer than 3 days, just because of my own paranoia that he would start waking in the middle of the night for feeds.  But actually, once I completely dropped it, he slept better!  And we've been df free for two months now.

Good luck!
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Linda74 on December 09, 2005, 14:04:32 pm
Hey Tammy

Thanks for the reply...any suggestions for a BF baby?  He absolutely refuses the bottle, i've tried for months with him and I am going to start training him with the sippy cup.

Linda
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Erin M on December 09, 2005, 16:09:29 pm
Just try and decrease the time of the DF if you're BFing.  If you give both sides now, just give one.  It's not as exact as if would be if you were bottlefeeding, but you should have an overall idea as to how much your LO is getting and you can decrease a bit.  I dropped the DF about 2 months ago with my DD (she is BF) and it went well.  Good luck!
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Linda74 on December 09, 2005, 18:48:35 pm
For Erin - did your lo still wake up for the df while you were trying to drop it?  If so, what did you do?  Pu/pd?  My lo wakes up/stirs around the time that I give him his df.

Linda
Title: Dropping Dream feed - silly question...but got to ask
Post by: Erin M on December 09, 2005, 20:27:54 pm
Linda-
She did stir on occassion when I did it closer to 11, but once I started bringing it forward, she didn't wake up anymore for it.   I think by making it earlier, it kind of teaches them not to expect it at a set time.