When do you stop top up and df?

[petram]

Hi  

My LO is 18 wks this week, we have moved from 3hr easy to 3hr.45/4hrs over the last couple of weeks.

He feeds at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm top up and df 10.30

He has 6/7oz per feed, 3/4oz top up and 3/4oz at df and no night feeds

Im just wondering how long do you keep doing the top up and df, as you can see, my LO takes only half a feed at these times and i'm wondering if its best to combine them to make 1 feed? and if so which one do you get rid of?

Sometimes im really tired and stay up till 10.30 to feed him and all he takes is 3oz!

Is there any reason why the df can't be earlier, say 9/9.30pm?


He struggles with a bath if its too close to feeding which is why he feeds first.

Could i feed him at 6.30, bath at 7 and straight to bed and then feed again at 9.30?, combining the top up and df?

[*Kara*]

Could i feed him at 6.30, bath at 7 and straight to bed and then feed again at 9.30?, combining the top up and df?

This is exactly what I would try

[rugbykaf]

May be not the best suggestion but it worked for us . . .

If you're feeling brave just see what happens when you miss out the DF.  I did this with my two as I was so tired I thought "I'm going to bed and I'll feed them when they wake up" . . . which was 6am!  Not had a DF since, just moved to taking bigger feeds.

How lucky is that! 

[petram]

Dropping the dream feed-that was brave!!
How old were they when you did that?

I'd love to drop it.

[rugbykaf]

They were about 13/14 weeks I think, have STTN ever since.  They increased to 8oz feeds during the day very quickly.  I was a little worried that just 4 feeds was not enough but they've continued to gain weight (even jumping up a percentile) and sleep well.

Now they are a bit bigger I offer them a top up when they wake from their catnap (about 5pm).  Sometimes they don't want it,sometimes take 1 or 2oz which sees them through their bath.  Then they take a full feed before bed.