cluster feeding, dream feed- how early?

[kayra]

I've been re-reading some of the BWSAYP and noticed that Tracy suggests cluster feeding and the dream feed as early as 1 week. I don't think I started dreamfeeding DS1 till he was a couple of months or so, it still seems too early for the twins right now but I was curious about how early anyone has ever tried it and whether it was successful. Anyone care to share their experience?

xx

[Martini~]

I started when DS was 3mo. Good timing for us. He was able to go through 12h night with 1NF at random time but could go until 5am without a feed. These early morning feeds were difficult for us as he had problems with resettling so we kicked in with DF. It worked like a dream.

Earlier I was afraid that I would wake him (when he was younger resettling wasn't easy).

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

All my three naturally cluster fed from birth, with DD's 1 & 2 I did a df within a week or so but with DD3 she would never take one so we never bothered.

[kayra]

so Heidi they naturally did a 2hr stretch and then you did a df? and then would that tide them over for a good while?

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

It did with DD1...but DD2 woke for two nf's in addition to the df until she was about 6 months and then dropped them herself cold turkey! I think there was maybe a 2.5/3 hr stretch from bed to df but not entirely certain!

[kayra]

hmm, well these guys feed around 10-11 themselves right now anyway and then get up around 3, so i expect the only way df would work would be if they cut that 10-11 feed themselves and I introduced a df instead in hopes of getting rid of the 3 feed, does that make sense?

[Martini~]

With DS he was waking up by himself at 10pm after 7pm feed in first week than 1 more feed later (I know that many children will have 2 more not one). Than, week by week it went by and when he was 3 weeks it was around 12 and than after 1am. I personally introduced DF when DS woke for feed around 4/5am and he was very very difficult to resettle. So I decided to feed him at 23 so now he is easily going to 7am.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Yup, totally makes sense Kayra! Sounds like a good plan.

[kayra]

yeah Marti I think with DS1 it was similar, so at that point the DF was great. Then when he was well on solids at about 7mths I think, I slowly brought the df forward reducing it bit by bit till it was merged into his bedtime bottle and that was that!

[kayra]

so these guys have started doing a long stretch from their 6-7ish feed. they arent waking at 10-11 anymore, pushing out to 11.30-12 or even 1.  i'm tempted to try the df but not sure. so we talked about it with my mum yesterday and i thought we'd agreed to wait and see a bit and went to bed early. obviously there was a miscommunication b/c they then did a df around 11.30 for them but ended up having to change nappies b/c they were soiled, then they also woke up around 1.45/2.30 and then both went till 6.

so, its surprising that they woke so soon after the df, on the other hand tracy advises the df to be between 10-11 and they did it later, not to mention nappy change, so not exactly a df.
Why does the df have to be between 10-11? do you think it's worth trying at this stage? i'm unsure what to do...