How to drop a dreamfeed

[Taylor5]

Hello this is my first time on this site I had a quick read and it looks to be packed with great advice.
I'm looking for help with dropping a dream feed, my ds is nearly 6 months he is on 3 spoonfeeds a day and 5 7oz bottles ( 1 of these a dreamfeed) his routine is as follows:
8.30 to 9am breakfast and bottle
10 to 11am nap
12.30 lunch and bottle
2pm to 3pm nap
4.30 spoonfeed and bottle
6.15 approx, bath
7pm bottle then bed
11pm dreamfeed....
He was breastfed untill 3 months and slept all night from 3 weeks so why I started a dreamfeed I dont know but it seemed like a good idea  :idea: at the time. He's a brilliant baby and I'm really happy    but I would be even happier if I could drop this feed.
Please help
Taylor

[Taylor5]

Sorry I forgot to say he wakes up around 11pm for his feed, please help.

[Mariek]

Hi Taylor

The easiest way to eliminate the DF is to cut back on the amount of milk you give by an ounce a day until you're down to one ounce, then on the following night don't give the feed.

If he wakes expecting the feed after that then you can try just offering cool boiled water instead - they soon get to the point where they realise water isn't work waking up for!

HTH

love

[Taylor5]

Thanks for that advice will start doing that from tonight, will let you know how I get on.
Taylor

[Taylor5]

just refreshing this post, please help, there is loads of people reading this post but only one person posted with advice.... please all advice welcome

[CharlotteS]

Hi, Taylor!

Lots of people are visiting, because it's a GREAT post!  Unfortunately, lots of us are having the same problem and don't know how to answer this for you.  (Sorry...)

I have a similar problem, but DS doesn't wake for his feed anymore.  He's just over eight months, and I've tried to give him more food during the day so that I could give him less at night, and, in doing so, wean the df!  But, he's only eating so much these days.  If I add any more he spits it up!

I would have to say, Taylor, if you've tried feeding more during the day, and less at night, gradually, and it STILL doesn't work to wean the df, maybe your LO isn't ready to give up the df yet.  Give it another month or so until the solids are enough to sustain him.

Hope that helps a little.  Wish I could help you out more.

Hugs!

[Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom]

Hi Taylor.

I did the df with my ds until solids were established, and then started to cut back. I didn't start solids with my ds until 6 mos, so I think it was around 7.5 months when I decided to try and drop the df.

I used to feed him five 6 oz. bottles a day (including the df bottle).  So, what I did was..

day 1 - cut back the df bottle by 1 oz (making it a 5 oz bottle), and add that 1 oz. to his morning bottle, making it a 7 oz. bottle.  Move up the df time by 30 minutes.  (I used to do the df at 10 pm, so I moved it to 9:30 pm)  Do this for 3 days.

day 4 - cut back the df bottle by another oz. (making it a 4 oz. bottle), and add that oz to his 2nd bottle of the day (so he's now getting two 7 oz. bottles during the day).  Move the df up another 30 minutes.  Do this for 3 days.

day 7 - cut back the df bottle by another oz. (making it a 3 oz bottle), add that oz to his 3rd bottle of the day (now he's getting three 7 oz bottles).  Move the df up by another 30 minutes.  Do this for 3 days.

day 10 - cut back the df bottle by another oz. (making it a 2 oz bottle), add that oz to his 4th and last bottle of the day (making all four bottles 7 oz. now).  Move the df up by another 30 minutes.  Do this for 3 days.

Day 13 - drop the df all together.

Doing it gradually helps to give them time to start increasing their eating during the day so they're not missing those nighttime calories. 

I personally did the 2 oz. df much longer than I probably needed to, but I was so paranoid that ds would wake.  But you know, when I finally dropped them, he actually slept better than when I went in to do the df.  We never looked back, and I have not had to feed him in the night since then.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Taylor5]

Hi Charlotte & Tammy
firstly I want to say sorry if I sounded snotty in my last post about people not posting  :oops:  It's just my 1st time on this site and found it very slow in getting advice, the other sites I'm on, not many mums df so I couldnt get help there.... I also read my babywhisperer book and nothing, I was just starting to panic as I could see my self df a 2 year old! Again I sorry.

Well Tammy  I have started doing as you said and all is going well at the moment, I wasnt adding the extra oz into his daytime feeds but I will start this when making his bottles tonight.... he did wake last night at 3am but it was with his teeth rather than hunger.

Charlotte I have tried giving bigger spoonfeeds during the day but as you say he started spitting it back, so I'll give what Tammy said a try and as I cut back on the df I'll add that oz into his daytime bottle. 

Thanks girls, you dont know how happy you both have made me with you help and advice, so big cyber hugs and kisses to you both xxxxxx
Taylor

[Tammy: Ethan & Kaden's Mom]

Taylor, you didn't sound mean at all!  I know how it is to want advice so much, especially when you feel like you have a problem on your hands!  So no worries there!

The plan to decrease the df I wrote out is in the 2nd babywhisperer book, the Solves All Your Problems one. 

I hope this works out for you well!  It really did help us get rid of that last df bottle.  BTW, my ds never took all of his bottles all the time.  So when I started adding those extra ounces to his daytime bottles, he sometimes took it, sometimes not.  But I figured the option was there!

Good luck, and let us know how you get along in a bit!

[CharlotteS]

Hi, Taylor!

No, I didn't think that you sounded snotty at all!  I think you sounded frustrated with the situation and sad that only one person responded to you!  So, no worries!  I would have responded sooner if I had seen it.  :oops:

The funniest thing last night:  I woke up out of a sound sleep, and thought, "OH!  I need to tell Taylor this..."  It's true, I forgot to share with you one of the things that we've been doing here.  So here goes:

One thing that's helped me lots is moving UP the df.  Instead of feeding at 11, I started feeding at 10:45 for a couple of days.  Then I moved it up to 10:30 while also cutting DS's bottle down an ounce. (Tammy mentioned this in her post.)

We're now at a 9:45 or 10:00 feeding, and I'm stuck because he won't take anymore food during the day without spitting up.  Many moms have said that this is the point that I should just stop the df since he's getting enough food during the day AND not waking at night for the df.  I'm scared to do that though.  But, I thought I would share that with you!

I hope that helps, and hugs to you!

[Taylor5]

Thanks again girls,
I have him down to 5oz dream feed at 10pm, I have also increased his daytime feeds to 2 8oz feeds and 2 regular 7oz feeds, but I'll up these over the next few days...
Tammy your son Ethan is the image of my son its unreal, I'll have to post a photo of Alex. He is only 6 months but you would think they where twins! (the 2 bottom teeth are so cute) I showed my dh the photo of Ethan and we sat staring at it in shock, they say everybody had a double somewhere in the world.
Talk soon
Taylor

[CharlotteS]

Hi, Taylor!

Just an update for you!  I took my own advice and dropped the df last night.  DS was able to go all night, and I'm very proud of him.  I'll miss the "snuggle time" that I got during the df, but it'll be better for his sleep in the long-run.

Good luck, hon!
Hugs!

[Taylor5]

Charlotte well done on dropping the dreamfeed, you wont know what to do with youself in the evenings now! I know it only takes a few minutes but sometimes its nice to stick on a movie and have a few glasses of wine without having to keep an eye on the clock, I dont like to complain with having to do a df when there are mums out there still doing night feeds for babies the same age or older...
Thanks for the help all is going well, I will keep you updated on how its going.
Taylor

[CharlotteS]

Oooo, wine!!!  Yummy...  Thanks for reminding me, Taylor!  That will be nice!

Things will go well for you too.  I don't think you're complaining!  I understand what you're going through completely!!

PLEASE let us know how it's going.  PM me personally if you'd like! 

Hugs!!

[Taylor5]

Charlotte  all is well at the moment, I have him down to 5oz and have moved from 11 to 10, but last night he woke early 9.30pm (as dh forgot to put bonjella on him gums before bed) with his teeth as it was only a 1/2 an hour I fed him... I thought he would wake in the early hours of the morning getting fed so early, but no he didnt he slept untill 8.45am which is his normal time. So I trilled  to bits that things are going so well please God there is more of the same to come.
Thanks for all the help
Taylor