dreamfeeding a 4 week old

[kellyzak]

Hello Everyone,

My little boy is just about to reach 4 weeks and we are currently using E.A.S.Y which seems to be going ok at the moment but was just wondering if its ok to now introduce a dreamfeed tried to do this when he was approx 2 weeks old and although he took a full bottle he promptly brought it all back so assumed he was to young for it. Our nightime routine currently consists of bath at approx 6 till 6.20 then dried pj's on and bottle and hopefully in bed and asleep by 7 - 7.15 although some nights it can be 8 - 8.30 before he finally settles. He next wakes for a feed anywhere between 10.30 and 11 and then again at around 2.30 - 3 so want to know if i dreamfeed at about 10ish instead will this push him further into the morning? Also want to know when can i expect him to start taking more feed he currently has 4oz per feed so when he can take more like 5oz will this make him sleep longer at night?  Any advice greatly appreciated,thanks.

[Lolly]

Hi and welcome to the boards! You sound like you are doing really well. You can certainly try a dreamfeed, if he is waking for a feed then feeding a little earlier may keep him asleep through to the next feed. When does he wake for a feed after the 2/3am feed? If this is it until 7 ish he is doing really well. Not all babies take to a dreamfeed, it's really hit and miss with my LO, so give it at least a week to see what the effects are.

Let him guide you as to when he needs bigger feeds. When he starts draining 4oz bottles put another oz in for him, there should be enough in the bottle so there is a bit left so you know they have stopped because they have had enough not because it's all gone! There isn't really a set age for increasing bottles, some never take more than 4 or 5 oz whilst others are on full bottles quite soon.

He is very young to sleep through the night yet, my 14 week old has a night feed and although some do sleep 12 ish hours at a young age it's very common to need the night feed for some months.

If you want some more advice about his routine post on the EASY board, but really he is so little make sure you enjoy him! We have a rough EASY, it's not so structured time wise but I try to be guided by her and follow the main principles like not letting her get too overtired and keeping feed and sleep seperated.

HTH!

Laura

[kellyzak]

thanks for that i think i will give it a go and see how we get on. After the 2/3 am feed its usually around 5ish but usually a quick cuddle and re swaddling gets him back of till about 6.30ish then our routine starts all over again. He has started to drain the 4oz bottles so will try increasing them to 5oz hes a big baby was 9lb 6oz born and weighed 10lb 4oz at 2 weeks so thought he would take more quicker but he obviously isnt a greedy baby.

[Lolly]

Good luck! My DD was 8 lb 11oz born and she was only taking 3-4oz at 4 weeks and slowly increased over the weeks. She has reflux which means she doesn't feed so well at the moment but has still managed to reach 15lbs at 3 months - and I thought girls were supposed to be dainty!

Laura