wake to sleep...anyone try it?

[ro_vaughan]

My 5 week old is on a 3 hour easy and is doing great.  Last week, he started losing interesting in his MOTN feeding...only taking an ounce or two and only if I really tried to force it on him.  He goes to bed at 830 and gets a dreamfeed at 1130.  Our wake time is 6 am.  He is doing well without his MOTN feed but wakes up between 4 and 430 to fuss (when he used to get fed).  Usually a paci will settle him back to sleep until 530 or 6am (our wake time).  Should I still feed him at 4?  He is pretty young...I can't believe he already has cut out a MOTN feed.  His older sister did the same thing...it was wonderful!  He is content during day and eats 5 ounces every 3 hours, cluster feeds at 6 and 8. DF at 11-1130.  Naps decently (first nap of the morning is a little short...he stays awake from 6am to about 745 or .

I think he wakes at 4 out of habit...am I reinforcing that habit by giving him a paci?  The one time I tried to let him settle himself back to sleep he started really hollering and I fed him (but he wasn't really hungry...only took about an ounce before passing back out).  Should I give him more time to work his way to our waketime? Move back his dreamfeed? Just shush/pat?

Has anyone tried wake to sleep this young? Or at all?  Should I wake up at 3 or so to gently stir him?  I am terrifed to try this and am afraid I might just set a new, earlier wake time. 

Any advice on wake to sleep would be appreciated!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Wow, that's really amazing - it does sound as if he doesn't need it. I would caution you though that if he ever does wake at night and you even suspect hunger, don't hesitate to feed him. He probably will need to eat at night at least during growth spurts and that's normal.

But as for wake to sleep, I think that's definitely the way to go. Just remember that you need to do it at least 3 days to show any results but a week would probably be a good plan. You may need to adjust your timing too but 3 is a good place to start.