I just read the FAQ re: df but I still have some questions. I have a 8 wk old baby boy, 14 lb 7oz . I clusterfed/df for a while (> 1 week) and I was not seeing the benefit. I since have dropped one of the cluster feeds b/c I thought it was exhausting and not really worth it. I now get some quality alone time w/ my hubby. Plus, I was confused with that bit that Tracy said to combine the clusters into one feed after 8 wks. I read somewhere on the forum that was probably more for bottlefed than bf? Since dropping the last clusterfeed, we moved his bedtime up 30 min (will post schedule). I still do a df between 10:30-11. However, he doesn't take much at this feeding (maybe 10 min of nursing - I'm not watching the clock just wait for him to stop nursing). However, he wakes up btwn 1:30-3ish hungry (even when I was clusterfeeding) and only nurses for a short period - prob less than 10 min and then wakes up again approx 3 hrs later usually around 5ish. These times tend to vary a little so I have not tried w2s. our (my) ideal wake up time is 7am but it usually closer to 6:30. Last night, I slept upstairs and my hubby fed my lo EBM - he only took about 2 oz in the middle of the night. My question is - how hard do I try to get 2am-ish feed dropped? I'm pretty exhausted so just wondering if I just deal with it and wait for him to miraculously sleep thru a feed or keep trying. I'm actually OK with this just need to know that most 8 wks need 2 nightfeeds and eventually I'll get some sleep!
As soon as he yawns/fusses I start winding him down and after a swaddle he takes a 1.5-2.5 hr nap. He usu starts to fuss approx one hour after being up and can not tolerate much longer than that right now. On good days, he'll take approx 2 hr. His longest is nap #1. The shortest is before bedtime. He'll wake up from his naps if he kicks out of his swaddle but usu goes back to sleep after reswaddled (this happens during at least one nap during the day).
Here's our rough 3h schedule:
E7ish
S8ish
E10ish
S11ish
E1ish
S2ish
E4ish
A diaper change/daddy time
S catnaps
A 6:30ish start bedtime routine w/ bath, etc
E 7ish
S 7:30/7:45ish
E df 10:30ish (has not woken up before 11 to feed once put down for bedtime)
nightime
1:30-2:45
5ish
