habitual waking or hunger?

[wonderma]

My lo is almost 8 weeks old is almost 12 pounds (8lbs 10oz at birth). Has been on EASY since birth, feeds every 3 hours, up for about 1 hour 15 mintues, then the nap time varies (we try to extend with shush/pat). We use 4 S routine to wind down. Bedtime around 8pm after bath. I am breast feeding for 15-20 min on one side. He wakes at 2am and 5am on the dot every night and takes a full feed (10 - 15 min). We sometimes wait 20 min before going in, it's never really a full blown red-faced cry, but it is more than babbling and will contine for hours if we don't go in. He settles back to sleep after being fed. We have tried shush/pat and paci at night to no avail. I've just stopped cluster fedding as he would not take the dream feed. Now I am trying the dream feed (at 10 or 11PM) but he won't take it...we've tried breast and botle. So...I'm wondering if I should feed him more in the day? How?? Since he feeds every 3 hours?? Or if we should take steps to stop habitual waking, ex. wake to sleep. Or if we should just keep trying at the dream feed. Or if we should try harder to settle him with out a breast feed. Help? Or is this normal? This is my first baby.

[kezzi78]

I know its difficult but i would say this seems perfectly normal my Lo did exactly the same. With regards to getting more into your Lo during the day have you tried offering the other breast if your LO has drained the first one? I personally wouldnt do wake to sleep as eating at 2 and 5 seems normal. With regards to the df i would say not to bother if it is not working for you.#

hope this helps

[KellyC]

Just to second that it sounds as though you're doing fantastically!  Your LO is already doing a 6 hour stretch from 8pm to 2am and missing one feed is actually defined as 'sleeping through'.

Kelly x

[Jo-FrasersMum]

Hi there

Just to echo the pp's, it sounds like everything is going well and very normally for your LO's age.

Just on the dreamfeed, it often takes up to a week of trying the dreamfeed to see if it will work for your DC.  The idea is that your LO will have their long stretch of sleep (the missed feed) after the dream feed instead of straight after bedtime through to the early hours of the morning.  If you wish to keep trying the dreamfeed, do it for a week and see if there is any impact on your DS's sleep.  Otherwise, you might need to let your DS do what is natural for him (feeding at 2 and 5) - and get some early nights yourself to make up for the lost sleep!

Good luck
Jo

[wonderma]

Thanks for your help. It is so hard to know what is "normal" for your fisrt child. I feel better knowing we are doing the right thing and a 2 and 5 am waking is OK. It is just so weird that I have started feeding him at exactly 2:03 am for the last 3 nights!!! Like clockwork. I will keep trying at the dream feed. And try to get to bed earlier myself!

[cbeall]

I am going through exactly the same thing with my 7 week old.  He is waking up every 4 hours (he is on a 4 hour EASY) during the night taking a full feed.  I was wondering if I should change him to a 3 hour EASY to get him to take in more calories during the day in order to drop one of these feedings, but fear he will just take in less with each feeding and we will end up at exactly the same place (calorie wise) at the end of the day.  I'm going to give it another week and re-evaluate.  I'm hoping he will start taking in more with each feed during the day so that he won't want one of his middle of the night feedings.   

[Jo-FrasersMum]

Hi cbeall

I think you are spot on - try a 3 hr EASY during the day and *hopefully* your LO will want less feeds during the night.  Most LO's move to a 4 hr EASY around the 4 month mark (16 weeks)

HTH
Jo