Amazing - sounds like my 8 week old. I am also a first timer, so dont presume to know too much, but I was also worried that my LO had crreated a nocturnal habit.. originally it was at 12:30am. Just when I was thinking about trying wake to sleep she suddenly changed to 3:30/4am. I know its not a habit because she feeds for at least 20 mins, whereas I get the feeling from Tracey's books that a habit waking results ina very short, half hearted attempt to eat. I agree with the other posts - we are lucky as many babies still wake every 3 or 4 hours.. I have not yet introduced a dream feed as I was working on the basis of let sleeping babies lie but i suspect that this may be the answer to LO sleep ing thru. She has a last feed at 6pm and only wakes at 3:30 onwards.. so if she can sleep for 9 hours without waking technically she should be able to sleep thru if I introduce a dream feed.. i am just very nervous that she may add it to her lot and still wake at 3am, thereby robbing me of more sleep (I am sad and go to bed at 9pm for some sleep!)
She is back to waking at 12:30 this week as she has had a cold, and I was worried that by feeding her then I was sending the wrong signal as I know she is capable of going longer, but I have persuaded myself that illness is the exception to comfort feeding and needs to be offered. I tried ssh/pat for 15 mins and she was screaming so I 'gave in' and fed her - she ate for 10 mins and went back to sleep. Hope I havent taken the easy route but it seems mean to be hard on an 8 week old with a bunged nose! I am also doing 3 naps a day - for 2 I can put her in her crib awake and leave her pretty much immediately, but for the last one of the afternoon I often struggle. It is down to her being overtired - I started watching her very carefully and I have to give her an extra 5/10 mins of wind down time before this nap and sit with her for a bit longer. Its worth persevering though as it makes settling for the night so much easier if they are well rested during the day.
Have you always done the dream feed or just recently introduced it? Im curious to know how long your LO slept without it (if you ever didnt do one). Sounds like you are doing really well with everything!!