Babies waking before the dream feed

[ddykeman]

Hi everyone,
My twin girls are 7.5 months old.  They are bf except for a bottle of formula before bed (which they do not finish) and their df bottle.  They keep waking up before the dream feed so we have been feeding them earlier and earlier.  I sort of think it is habit though I am not sure as it is earlier and earlier.  We thought by increasing solids we coule prevent them from at least waking for it or at best get rid of it however the only affect additional solids seems to have is making them drink less before bed.  Has anyone else had a similar situation?  What do we do?

tnx,
S&A's mommy

[* Paula *]

Can you post what your EASY routine looks like, so that we can get a better picture of your day, including the amounts of solids:-

E - Breast or bottle if bottle how much?
A - how long
S - how long including your wind down routine.

Once we have a look at your whole routine, we can then look to see if the wakings are due to habit.

Tracy does suggest weaning the DF at 7 months.  Have you thought about trying to wean the DF?

[ddykeman]

They are pretty much on the same schedule though breastfeed 10-15 minutes apart so the following is an average time as sometimes they sleep longer than other days- their wakeup through afternoon are always on 4 hour cycles:

E-8:00-Wake up-breastfeed-max 10 minutes though usually less
A-get dressed, have bath (not every morning) play in high chair while older brother eats
E-9:00-breakfast-oatmeal-2.5 tablespoons and 2.5 ounces fruit
A-play- in exersaucers, playmat, with toys etc
S-10:15-~noon-nap- we change diapers and read books before bed- just a few minutes
E-12:00-breastfeed- my smaller daughter also has a 2 oz bottle afterwards- she is <3% on the weight charts so we always have
A- 12:30-1:45/2- play-music etc
S- 2:15-~4- when they start to get tired or cranky we move play to their bedroom and change diapers- they tend to get a second wind so we play in their room for a bit and then read stories- they are in bed at 2:15
E-4:00- breastfeed
A-play
E-5:00-dinner-solids- 2.5 tablespoons rice cereal and 2.5 ounces vegetable
A-play
S-bedtime routine starts at 7- we change pajamas, nurse (5-10 minutes) and have bottles (my smaller daughter takes 2.5-4.5 oz and my bigger daughter 4.5-6.5- I guess it all depends on how interested they are in nursing. They are in bed by 7:30-7:40
DF-as of tonight we are at 9:30 and 3.5 ounces

We are trying to wean the df- a few weeks ago the df was at 10:30- they started waking before it so we moved it up and that worked for a few nights but then they started waking before the new time-it has gone on like that to a point that in a couple of weeks we have moved it up by an hour- we have dropped from 4 ounces to 3.5 ounces.  they never took more than 4 ounces at teh df.

Appreciate any thoughts.   

[Lolly]

I would try weaning the DF as Paula suggested. Tracy suggests doing in in 3 day increments and adding an oz to the first feed of the day when you take an oz away from the DF and moving it 30 mins earlier. After 3 days do the same again, add an oz and take away an oz and move it 30 mins earlier.

The other thing I noticed is you don't have quite a 12 hour day which may be causing the wakings too - maybe they are a bit under tired . My DD is about 7.5 months too and her A time is quite a bit longer than yours. Our day is variable depending on when her brother wakes her up but is roughly

7 - wake, eat *bottle 4oz, 1 hour later solids*, activity + bath & dressed

10 - 12 sleep

12 - wake, eat *solids*, activity *bottle before nap 4-6oz*

3 - 4 (30) sleep

4 Wake, activity *solids about 5pm*
6.30 bath then bedtime *bottle 6-7 oz*

7 sleep for night.

She has reflux and we have problems getting milk in her which is why her day milk intake is less then average for this age. We don't do a DF and she does wake anywhere between midnight and 5am, downs a 7oz bottle and goes straight back to sleep. She will sometimes have a short morning sleep and a longer pm sleep but I keep her A to 3 hours (sometimes a bit longer).

If you think it could be tiem to extend the A times, do it slowly by adding 10 or so mins to each time for a few days, then add again.

What do you think?

Laura

[* Paula *]

I agree with Laura, definitely keep on trying to wean the DF.  By the sounds of things, they are waking as they are expecting it.  Keep us posted on how you get on.

With regards to the A times, I agree again with Laura, would definitely try and increase.  My DD was doing 3 hours A time at 6 months old, so that could also be the reason why your lo's are waking due to being slightly under tired.  Give it a try as Laura suggests increasing the A time and see how your lo's get on.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you get on.