Problems with dream feed: please help!

[bubka]

Hi Ladies! 

Just registered but have been reading for some time. I haven't had any major problems yet, so I didn't feel the need to post. Until now 

Well, my DS is 14 weeks old now and is ebf. He's on a 3 hr EASY but is showing signs of moving to a 3.5 hr EASY. Till now I've been feeding him during the day at 7, 10, 1, 4 and 7. So far so good 

The nights are not that good. I tried a DF when he was younger (maybe 4-5 weeks ago), but he wasn't interested. He just pursed his lips and didn't drink. So I just gave up. He just woke up at 3 am for a feed, so I was pretty satisfied.

Well, 2 weeks ago, he started waking up twice, at around 1 am and 5 am! I decided to try the DF again (to try and eliminate one night waking). He did accept the DF this time, but still woke up at 1 am and 5 am. I tried it for 3 days and then dropped the DF. I had the impression that he was feeding less during the day as he was getting 3 full feeds at night!

Last week, he started waking up at midnight instead of 1 am (and then again at 5 am). Yesterday, he woke at 11 pm!

BTW, he falls asleep on his own with no problems (day and night).

Do you think it's worth trying the DF again? What should I do if he still wakes up twice at night?

[lisi's mum]

I didn't have much luck with the df - dd1 still woke at 1 no matter what, dd2 is waking at 10 for a feed most of the time, so I haven't tried yet. It works a treat for lots of people, but seems to disturb the sleep patterns of other babies and leads to more NWs rather than less.

At 14 weeks 2 night wakings is still well within the realm of normal (sorry!) I'd feed and put him down again, waiting a bit before trying to wean the night feeds.

Some people had more sucess with dream feeds by bringing them earlier or later - as early as 9 or late as midnight. What time were you giving your df?

[bubka]

Hi Lisi's mum!

I was feeding him just before I went to bed, so around 10:30 pm.

I realise that 2 feeds a night are normal at this age, what bothers me is that the 1st feed is getting earlier and earlier.  Don't know what causes that.

I guess I'll just skip the DF and observe things for a while and hope for the best!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi bukka, At 3 months there is a growth spurt (GS) which leads to extra night wakings. GS's usually last only 3-4 days. So if your not having much luck with df, feeding at the extra wake's shouldn't last too long. Some times you have to go with the flow.

With the Df times, i think most people aim for giving at 10pm latest if im right. I don't do it but thats what i've read

[Tamara]

My DS is now 12 weeks and still wakes twice at night for a feed (which is FAB, because it used to be every 2 hours in the early days  )

He'll go to bed at roughly 6-7pm, then I don't DF as such, but I wait for him to stir and he does at about 10-11pm (so I call that a DF, even though it isn't strictly) then he wakes again 2am usually and after that, it's anybody's guess - he has gone till 6:45 but he also wakes 2.5 hours later sometimes.

If you are feeding your LO at about 10pm, I would then see how long it is till the next feed.