Is the dreamfeeding making a difference?

[Rizzo]

Hi, I have a 12 week old and am having daytime sleep issues (already posting in naps - he is a catnapper, so we have a few overtired bedtimes), but this is due to his night wakings.

I havent been dreamfeeding him until recently. He would go down about 7 ish for bedtime, then wake about 2-3am for a feed, then 7ish for the morning.

He has recently been waking earlier in the morning (5.30-6am) - his cry is a bit different. Not sure whether he is truly hungry, but he is happy to feed (BF). He then thinks its morning time, but I know he is still tired. I put him back to bed, which he is not happy about, but will sleep till about 7.30am and wakes happy.

About a week ago, I started to DF him (10.30-11pm). He has woken a little the last 2 nights (cried when put back in bed, but settles within a few mins). The night wakings have not changed though. He used to last from 7pm till 2am without a feed. I was hoping a DF would make him last till 4-5am and then he might wake at 7am. I think he slept till 4am once during this week.

Not sure whether I just scrap the DF, or whether the disturbed day sleeps are stuffing up the night wakings too.

[katie80]

Hi Rizzo,

If you've given it a full week of trying and not noticed a difference, then I would say you probably don't need to be doing it. The DF doesn't seem to work for all babies and in fact can be disturbing for some of them as well. Some moms also choose not to DF, so they can go to bed earlier. It really is kind of a personal choice. You may try for one more week, if you're not keen on dropping it, just to see if he stretches out at all. Whatever you think works best for you.

In your case, since the days are not quite ironed out yet, it's hard to tell what exactly might be disrupting your nights. It is very common, however at 3-4 mo for a bit of regression in NFing. One, because of growth spurts and two because of LOs 'awakening' more and becoming a bit more distracted at their daytime feeds. I think your best bet is to try to get your day ironed out first, continue to make sure DS is taking good, full feeds, and feeding him in the night at no shorter interval than 3-4 hrs (whatever you feel appropriate and most comfortable with). Hopefully as you work on those things and the developmental stuff goes away, the NFs will go back and stretch out on their own.

[Rizzo]

Thanks for the advice. He slept till 4.30am this morning...he woke at 10.30pm though and I fed him at 11pm when he wasnt settling, so it wasnt really a DF.
Due to the catnaps during the day, I often have to BF him at the 2.5-3 hr mark, so I guess I am not sure if he is getting full feeds...
During the night though, I never feed less than 3-4 hours, except if he wakes early (5-6am) and I want him to go back to sleep....
Would you believe that he slept through from 7pm till 4am without a DF when he was 6 weeks... happened for 3 days then stopped.

[katie80]

Well, maybe it's worth keeping the DF for another week then, to see if he continues to go til 4ish.  Those 3 days at 6 weeks must have been so nice! You'll get back there.