Should I introduce dream feed at 4 months or just wait?

[nossi]

My 4 mo DD just started getting to bed at a reasonable hour, so I haven't had the opportunity to do a DF until now.  She currently goes to bed around 7:30/8 and wakes up for a feed anywhere from 2-4 am and then sleeps again until 7:30.  Whenever I've tried a DF, it didn't really affect her NW.  Sometimes, it delayed the NW (eg she'd wake at 4 or 5 instead of 2 or 3) but never eliminated it.  She's exclusively BF.  So I'm wondering if she just doesn't get that much milk at the sporadic DFs that I've done because I don't normally feed her at that time.  What do you think?  Should I just wait it out and see if she STTN in a couple of months?  I'm hoping she'll STTN soon so that the in-laws can watch her overnight - so this is why I'm asking   Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[becj86]

I'd leave well enough alone - been there, tried the DF with dismal results - just disturbed his sleep and I got the same if not more NW's.

Can you not express a bottle for the IL's to do a NF?

[nossi]

Thanks - you're probably right.  I'm leaning towards waiting too.  I could express a bottle for the IL's but would feel bad asking them to wake up with her (since 4 yo DS sometimes also wakes when he sleeps there, and they'd be there together   The IL's are young and energetic, but not THAT energetic!   The DF was amazing when my DS was little, but DH used to give him a nice big bottle of EBM at the DF, which really tided him over.  We just don't have the energy to do it for DD, so I'd be BF'ing for the DF, which just isn't so effective for me...  THanks!!