Cluster & Dream Feeding Support/Chat

[kpweddings]

Has anyone tried adding Rice cereal to the last nighttime bottle before the long stretch of sleeping?  A friend of mine started her daughter at 8 weeks and she says it really worked well.  My son slept 8 hours the last two nights with a 6 oz. formula bottle at 8 pm and then a 4 oz. formula bottle DF at 10 pm... amazing.. Just wondering if someone thought that instead of the DF the rice cereal would be a good idea.... Thanks in advance!

[LindyLou71]

Hello -
I would probably check with your pediatrician/doctor before introducing cereal this early on.  There are a lot of studies that are showing an increase in food allergies and digestive troubles b/c of the introduction of "food" too early.  Their wee digestive systems aren't ready to handle the processing of the cereal.  The only reason to intro it at this point is to extend OUR sleep. 

I have a little man with reflux and our pediatrician advised against introducing cereals just yet. 

My mom told me it was something they used to do when we were kids - added a bit to the bottle.  She didn't b/c even then they were told it could be problematic.  It can cause constipation etc...

Sorry just offering my opinion.  I would have felt awful if I gave my LO cereal and it totally messed up his digestion.....

We are going to try the DF again in a couple weeks to see if it extends his sleep - right now he goes to bed around 8:30/9:30 and sleeps until 4 which is pretty good for a 9 week old.  I am REALLY tired too and would LOVE more sleep but it is only for a short time (hopefully) - then teething starts LOL....

Just a thought
~L

[* Paula *]

I completely agree with LindyLou.

Adding cereal to a bottle is not recommended, as it can also be a chocking hazzard, as well as all the reasons LindyLou explained.  Rice cereal is extremely constipating, and introducing it too long can cause alot of problems.  The cons really outweigh the pros.

Also there is not proven fact that adding cereal (which is empty calories) to your lo's diet will help your lo sleep longer.

Paeds do sometimes suggest thickening a lo's milk with rice cereal if a lo has reflux, but again this is on a Paeds advice, and they will tell you exactly how much to use etc.

[LindyLou71]

Or try the Enfamil thickened/AR.. (for refluxers)
L

[LindyLou71]

Okay so today we got up late - much later than I would have liked but here is the schedule so far

9am - E - 4.5 oz
11 am - S - 40 mins
12 - E - 4 oz - he was getting really sleeping during this one
12:45 - S  - which is where he is now

So here is my question -

For some reason my LO who was going until 4 am from about 9:30 is now up at 2, 5/5:30, 7 - So I was thinking about a cluster/DF.  My plan was next feed at 3, nap in there somewhere.  Eat - 6pm, Activity - 1 hour, Bath then Eat at 8, followed by a DF at 10/10:30?  It works today because we started at 9am but what would it look like (ideally) if we started at our normal 8 am?  .....
~L

[* Paula *]

If your normal day starts at 8, you could probably try the cluster feeds at 5 and 7 or 6 and 8 which ever you prefer.

[valerie h.]

WOW!! I've finally found posts that I can so relate to. I'm glad to have found other people who are having as much trouble with the df'ing as I am. I'm new to this posting thing and have posted other things elsewhere on the website, but this looks like the place where I have to be. Madison is 10 wks old (11 wks this Thurs), and ever since we started on cf/df last Thursday, she has not slept well at all. Her feeding schedule is 6am, 9, 12, 3, 5, 7, and 10 now and used to be 6,9,12,3,6,9, and approx. 2:30am. She does okay at the cf's but horribly at the df. We try to not wake her for it, but she ends up waking up or we end up having to wake her to get her to even eat anything. Then she will wake up several times during the night, generally going back to sleep with the binky. But last night, giving her the binky would not work. When we had her on her old schedule, she would sometimes sleep until 4:30 am, MUCH longer time than df 10pm to 1:30 am!!! My husband and I are soooo tired and are going to drop the df tonight and go back to our old schedule. My question is about the cluster feeds though...should I stick to my 3 hr schedule (3pm, 6, 9) or try to cluster feed (3pm, 5, and 7)? Generally she would take the same amount, but I guess doing the cluster feed, we would get a longer evening?? ANY advice would help.

[* Paula *]

Hi and welcome to the BW boards.

Unfortunatley the DF does not work for every lo.  Yes, I would suggest sticking with the cluster feeding for at least a week, and see how your lo goes from there.  Put your lo to bed after the 7pm feed, and then leave your lo to wake on her own for the next feed.  Give it at least a week to see how your lo does.

Good luck, and keep us posted on how you get on.

[valerie h.]

So, Paula...you're suggesting that I still try to cf at 5 and 7 instead of going back to my old schedule of 3pm,6pm, and 9pm?

[* Paula *]

The cluster feeds will definitely help your lo tank up, even if it is only taking in an extra oz or two, so will probably make your lo go a little longer at night.

It is defintley worth giving it a try and seeing how your lo does.

[valerie h.]

So is the point of a cf to not allow your lo to go through a sleep cycle, making it easier to wake them up from a catnap then a full nap? Sorry, I'm just so confused

[* Paula *]

Sorry, I am not 100% sure what what you are saying

Can you post what your routine looks like at the moment so that we can see where we can try and fit the cluster feeds in.

E
A - how long
S - how long.

[valerie h.]

E - 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, and middle of night (old schedule that seemed to work
      well)
   - we were doing 6am,9,12pm,3,5,7, and df 10pm. Which we are dropping the df as it does
      NOT work for us and Madison at all. This schedule we have implemented since last Thurs.

A - approx 30min to 1 hour

S - 1 1/2 to 2 hours

From Monday through Thursday, we drop her off at the sitter's and she generally stays on this routine as well, she may get off a little but we have stressed the importance to our sitter about the EAS method. She reads Madison's cues more than anything though.

[Barley]

Is it realistic for me to think that by DF my son at 10:30 he should be lasting longer then 2 a.m.  He is 7 weeks old and we have been doing this for about a week now.  I am just wondering if the DF is working for us.  Obviously, I guess I just want some sleep so I am hoping for longer stretches but I just don't know what is realistic at his age.  Any suggestions?  Also, the past couple of nights he has has had a hard time with taking his DF and the cluster feeds.  He just doesn't seem hungry? Any suggestions for this?

[* Paula *]

Valerie h.  Did you try the cluster feeds last night?  How did it go?

Barley - At 7 weeks it is still very realistic for your lo to be waking at 2:00 am for a feed.  When does he wake for a feed again in the night?

If he is not hungry at the cluster feeds / DF, perhaps pick one and stick with it.  Either go for the cluster feeds, or go with the DF - which ever you think will work better for you.