Dream feed query

[Lazysusan]

This is my first post. I have not long ago found your website – it is an amazing resource. Thank you!

I have a four-and-a-half month old who I am slowly getting onto a four-hour EASY routine as detailed in Tracey's book (am up to day 7). I have only recently started the Dream Feed and have two questions.

I always offer both breasts at each feed (and she always takes both). Should I do the same at DF?

Also, she has been waking at 3.30am or 4am, which is fine, because it works well with our 7am feed. But what happens if she wakes after that (as she has done in the past)? Do I feed her at 5, say, and then feed her again at 7???

Thanks in advance for your help...

[NoelleChristine]

Welcome to the boards!

I've not done a DF with a breast fed baby.  I think it's really up to you if you want to offer both breasts.  It'd be good to have her take a nice big feed at the DF to see if you can't get rid of a night waking but I'm not sure if switching sides would wake her or not.  You'd be the one to know that.  I'd say do it if she'll sleep through it and if she wakes, stick to one side.

I'd be inclined to tell you see if you can't settle her if she wakes after that 3:30-4:00 am feed without feeding so she'll take a nice feed at 7:00.  I always "tried" to not feed if my lo woke before the 3-4 hour mark (3-4 hours since last feed) in the night.  If I was coherent that is.  Sometime I did (and still do at times) feed for 5 min. just to get the babe back to sleep quickly.  You've got to do what works for you but 1.5 hours is rather close together...kwim?

[Lazysusan]

Thanks so much for your help, Noelle.

Last night, I offered both sides and she did wake but she went straight back down and had a good feed. The result was that she didn't wake until after 5am, which is good but poses a dilemma for my 7am feed!

What I meant by my original post was that in the past she has missed the 3.30am/4am feed altogether and slept through to 5 or 6. Before I was on a routine, that was fine! But now a little tricky...

I did attempt to resettle but she was wide awake and frankly, given she hadn't had a feed for six hours, seemed only right to feed her.

So in this situation, am I best to wake her at 7am as usual and give her another feed? Even if it's a top-up to start the day? In the past, I would have let her keep sleeping but seems like I should start as I mean to go on.

Have looked for this information elsewhere on the boards but couldn't find anything...

Thanks again for your help.

[Meditrina]

When I df my xbf little guy and he wakes up early for a fed, I fed him at say 5am and then wake him up at 7am (which he generally does on his own anyway) and top him up if he will take it....Then we continue on our routine for the rest of the day.
I mean once your lo can last longer through the night maybe you can start pushing back the 5 am feed a little at a time until the 5am and 7am feeds are the same and she will sleep right through....
These are my thoughts anyway and my lo will sometimes wake up for the 5 am feed and sometimes sleep right through...
Hopefully this helps a little = )

[Lazysusan]

Oh that's brilliant, thanks. This morning (I'm in Australia, hence the time difference), I figured best to stick with the routine and woke her at 7am (although she was stirring already!). She took a really good feed. So there you go.

Yep, she used to sleep through but it's been a bit all over the shop lately so I am trying the 4-hour EASY/DF option to see if she can get back in synch. Fingers crossed.

Oh and I'm also doing it to try and improve her day sleeps, which are appalling but that's a whole other story for another board!

Thanks again for the help...

[NoelleChristine]

When I df my xbf little guy and he wakes up early for a fed, I fed him at say 5am and then wake him up at 7am (which he generally does on his own anyway) and top him up if he will take it....Then we continue on our routine for the rest of the day.

Yep, that's what we do too if I get an 5am ish waking.  I'll feed him again when he wakes for the day (usually 6:30 in our house) and I'll wake him to start the day by 7:00 if need be though I rarely have to do that.

[Lazysusan]

Fantastic. Great to know my instincts are right. Oh it's a minefield...

Thanks so much!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Yep i do the same What ever the nwing up at normal time (6.30 for me)

Kate x

[Lazysusan]

So tempting to let her sleep but I have done the right thing two mornings in a row now. 

Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated!

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

 

[NoelleChristine]

I hear ya!  It's ok to have a sleep in sometimes too, IMHO. 

[x95stocchier]

Ditto---if DD wakes early moring ie 5, I feed, then wake her by 7:30 to start of day (usually it's 7) and "top off" but if she had a good night of sleep, she's usually really hungry, even if she just ate 2 hrs ago.  If she wakes for a feed closer to 6, I just start our day then and adjust the EASY.