Disaster! Dreamfeeding not worked now baby wakes 2 times!!

[kim1977]

Hi All

I posted on here a few days ago about the dream feeding.  I was trying it and it wasn't working as my 10lb 7 week old still woke in the night for a feed.  He used to go from 7pm to 2-4am then to 6-7am.  I stupidly thought if I dream feed him he would go a little longer in the later part of the night but no!  He kept waking at 1-2am then again at 5-6am.  So I though he must be one of those that doesn't need it and stopped it last night.  He woke up at 1200 then again at 0445!!!  I have gone backwards!! 

Has anyone else experienced this?  Please tell me he will go back to his previous 1 wake at night!  I hope that because he has done it before he will do it again???

He is bottlefed and his routine (before dream feed introduced) is as follows:

7am - Eat
7am-8am Awake
8am-9.30am Sleep
09.30am-11.00 Awake
11am - Eat
11.30am-2.00pm - Sleep
2.00pm-3.00pm - Awake
3.00pm - Eat
3.00pm-4.00pm Awake
4.00pm-5.00pm Sleep
5.00pm-7.00pm Awake
6.15pm - Bath routine
6.45pm - Eat
7.00pm-3am/4am Sleep
3am/4am - Eat
3am/4am-6am/7am - Sleep

Any feedback would be great!  I hope someone out there has experienced this and can tell me it went back to normal (whatever that is)!!!

Thanks

Kim x

[~Emma~]

Exactly the same happened to me a few weeks back! I got greedy with the sleep and when the DF didn't work I was left with a wake att 11pm ( DF time) and again in the night too.

 The 11pm wake was a habitual wake. I used w2s for 4 days and it did the trick. Worked like a charm.

 http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=184457.0

 There's my thread!

[kim1977]

Hi Emma

Thanks for getting back to me.  My LO is really bad at settling (he has reflux and sufferd badly first few weeks of life), he ALWAYS cries before falling alseep!  Do you think W2S will work then?  Also being a bit think here but how does it work???

Thanks
Kim

[~Emma~]

((((hugs))))) on the reflux issues honey. 

 

  Do you think W2S will work then?  Also being a bit think here but how does it work???

 Not at all! It works by interuppting their sleep cycles. Kind of resets them if that makes sense. In Traceys sleep interviews I think that she says to wake them fully by changing nappy or the like. I never did that though. I went in 1 hour before the waking and just stroked her cheek until she stirred, her eyes opened briefly and then she turned around and went back to sleep. Tracey recommends at least 3 days in a row. 3 days to make a habit then 3 days to break it!

 I will admit that I was anxious but it did work. DH was even amazed!

 Re the crying before sleeps. My baby D does this. Is it hard crying or could it be a mantra cry?

[kim1977]

I see!  Except I never know what time he is going to wake!! Should I just chance it and do it at 10pm around the time I go to bed?  What if he wakes up? 

I might have to see if he falls back into his previous night waking routine it's been 1 night of not doing the DF maybe I should give it another 2 days?  Like you said 3 days to make a habit and 3 days to break it...right??  Then try the W2S?

The crying well sometimes is it whining and sometimes full blown red face holding breath but I let him cry for a set time then go into his room and shh him pat him to calm down and walk out again.  I did that at 5am yesterday when he woke up and he cried for about 20 mins then went to sleep for 45 mins...had to let him cry again for a bit before giving him his feed at 7am.  I am really trying to start everyday at 7am so our routine for the day follows easily.  It's just harder when he gets up after 4am as I know feeding him then will mean he will feed badly at 7am and that has a knock on effect for the rest of the day!!!

I know he is only 7 weeks but really when do they change?  The crying and whining is really very depressing!  I wish he would just play but unlike other babies he just whines and needs loads of attention to pacify him.  A sign of the future perhaps!


Kim x

[~Emma~]

 Hi Kim,

  I would not recommend letting your bub cry for any length of time on their own, especially at this young age. He only has needs at this time in his life whether it be for food or comfort or whatever. Even just 20 mins is a long time to a young infant. Tracey believed there was always a gentler method than lettin oyr baby cry, we just had to find it. 

 OK, so I didn't realise your wakings weren't at the same time each night. If the timing of the wakings are erratic it is likely hunger thats waking him. not the best news I'm afraid but most likely. W2S is implemented for habitual wakes, these tend to happena the same each night. Sometimes to the minute. This was my DD!

 He is still so young and everything is still so brand new. I can remember the frustrations well honey, it aint easy.  Are you sure the reflux is well controlled?

 Re starting the day at 7. Well thats just a recommendation. Not all bubs want to start their day at 7! In these early days there is rarely structure to the days but it does come eventually I promise you.


 

[kim1977]

Thanks Emma will see how we go xxx