tank up question

[~*erin*~]

thanks! Now, we'll see how tonight goes - she's been very sleepy today, though still eating like a champ ... even if it's a "regular" 3hr night, two nights of good sleep for mommy is super refreshing

[~*erin*~]

hi again! So here's where we are .... Audrey seems to "cluster feed herself" - meaning that in the evening, she is the one who wants to eat every two hours! haha. usually at 3/4, then at 5/6, then I help hubby get Fiona (2yo) bathed and in bed by 730ish, then I run down and do Audrey's bath in the kitchen sink and give her another feeding (however much she'll take) after that, and put her in bed.

Last night I did our first DF (I decided to try pumping, but did it aroun 9pm and only got 1oz, I think because of the clustering right before). However, she took the oz and slept an extra hour only (230am instead of 1/130am), then was up again at 530, instead of 430. This was an ok start I think, except I hate the 530 wake ups because then she just gets back to sleep for me to start her day at 7! (I know, I know, I could just let her sleep until whenever, but it's hard to do for several reasons, mainly because Fiona is up around 6am and out the door with hubby by 7, so the activity with those two makes it hard for me to get back to sleep anyway ...)

Anyway, I know I need to try the DF for at least a week to see if it will work, so no worries there - just wondering if there's a way to extent the time between those night feedings? Will it likely just sort itself out? I know, not a huge deal, just more curious than anything and to see others' experiences! Thanks!

[Fiver]

I never did a DF, but both DS and DD stretched out the times by themselves.

[becj86]

I didn't do a DF either. I tried for a week to see if it would get rid of the 5:30 NF once DS stretched out to one feed at 5:30 but it didn't work. He stretched out his feeds and dropped them all on his own.

[Erin M]

All of mine have stretched out those feeds on their own too.   My dd1 clustered on her own as well, she eventually grew out of that too.

[~*erin*~]

interesting! thanks for sharing! well, last night didn't work out AT ALL! she basically wanted to eat every hour until 11pm ... she just wouldn't/couldn't settle enough to sleep for more than 10min or so .... either OT or growth spurt. we'll see how tonight goes!

[Fiver]

Good luck!

[~*erin*~]

thanks! haha. it's been a rough day - not very good naps today unless being held and even then, they were shoddy. she's in the sling right now, having drifted back off to sleep .... she's definitely more alert today than ever before, like a switch was flipped and her eyes opened and won't shut! haha.

a quick question about "topping up" after bathtime .... I find she's wide awake afterwards! ack! maybe I'm waiting too long between her feeding, bath, and top up? it's usually about 1hr or so .... then the loooooooooooooooooong time after to get her asleep .................. ugh. can you tell it's been a long day!? haha

[Erin M]

I never did the top up so I'm not sure what part that would play, but you might need to increase your A time before bed of she's really awake and fighting you at BT.