Shaky dream feed

[ZeSpiole]

My LO is 16 weeks and we've done the dream feed at 10.30 since day 1, however, its not always when he's asleep- my dh does the feed and he  often ends up waking LO so that he feeds. The problem is LO is very hit and miss with these feeds. Some days he'll drain his bottle, others it'll take an hour to get jjust 3/4 ounces into him, in which case he wakes up throughout the night! He eats 5 ounces at every feed and is on a 3 hr easy.

My question is this- is he too young for us to remove the dream feed? I suspect he's not currently drinking enough and we'd have to up the ouncage per his daily feed, but is this possible? Has anybody done this, and if you have, does your LO sleep through from 7.30 til 7?!

[awaya]

ummmm....I would gradual increase his day time intake before trying to take out the dream feed.  DD for us was about 5 months old when we cut that out of her routine but had increased the amount feed during the day.

For uping her ounces we just offered an extra ounce per feed till she started taking more.  If he is waking when not having much of DF he may not be ready to totally eliminate that feed but is gradual working in that direction if that makes sense

[* Paula *]

The idea of the DF is for your lo to take it in their sleep.  If your DH is having to wake your lo to take the bottle, I am thinking that it is causing a disruption in his sleeping pattern, and hence this is why he is taking less per feed.

Have you tried offering the DF at 10:00?  Your lo may not be in as much of a deep sleep at this time.  Might be worth a try.

[ZeSpiole]

we've tried at 10 and at 11, just in case it was to do with disrupted sleep patterns, or even if it was too early, but no luck. Last night he managed an ounce and so I put him back to bed and thought i'll have to feed him when he wakes- but he didn't wake for a feed at all! He took his dummy once at half 1 and had to be reswaddled once at half 5, but otherwise slept soundly! Today i decided to up his milk intake to 6 ounces per feed and so far he's taken it. i'm thinking that if he does so for the rest of his feeds today then i'll let him sleep n not try the dream feed and see how he goes... what do u guys think? i know its early n he's young, but if its disrupting his sleep n its not necessary for him, then maybe its the right thing? I'm quite confused n a little worried :s esp cos he'll be shufting to 4 hr easy soon which means he'll only have 4 feeds a day! help?!

[awaya]

short on time to dy but will be back...later promise..

[TDR'smom]

Have you ever skipped the dream feed?  I know for us it never worked, whether or not we gave it to my lo's, they would still wake earlier than expected. 

[* Paula *]

Fantastic about your night 

If your lo did so well, I would consider dropping it, especially if your lo is not taking much and it is disturbing his sleep.  You may find that you end up doing 1 night feed, but he will probably sleep better for it.

They adjust pretty well with the 4 hour routine, you will probably find that your lo will take another oz or two more per bottle to make up for it.  Just remember though that there is a growth spurt around the 4 month mark, so that can throw your routine out the window a bit.