Dream feeding (when I'm going to bed) vs. on demand (at around 3am)

[qwerty310]

I've always fed my four month old on demand and haven't tried dream feeding. He was sleeping through the night from 7-7 since 6 weeks ago but the last week has woken up crying every night around three and feeding is the only thing that calms him. I think it is hunger because he'll stay awake for two breasts which is more than usual.

Should I attempt to dream feed when I go to bed around ten? Or continue to wait and wake up when he wants it. 7-7 is too long for his needs right now I guess. Maybe he'll take more during the day eventually and this is just a growth spurt?

 

[misspriss]

Hm, my son usually stirs to feed (but doesn't fully wake) when I come to bed anyway, so I guess I "dream feed" him, but then he usually does it again at 3 am! He never wakes up and cries though, just stirs and starts looking around for nipple.

 

[prettyunicorn]

At 7 months my baby feeds at my bed time usually @10:30 then again @2am and then 5am. Wakes at 7 for the day. All these feeds are in a sleepy state. He does not wake up or cry, just nuzzles close to me and roots. His bedtime had been changing from 10 pm at 4 months to about 7-7:30 now. So he has about 3 feeds during that time.

 

[qwerty310]

Thank you all for your replies! I'll try feeding him when I go to bed. He has been a good sleeper at night and doesn't really nap during the day so I don't want to disturb his rest. He needs to eat though! Patterns change so fast...

 

[misspriss]

He doesn't nap at all? At 4 months? that is quite odd! Is this a new occurance? Like the 4 month sleep regression? My 18 month old still takes 2 naps...

 

[CupcakeBaby]

That's not quite right of he doesn't nap all day.....

My 16 month old still needs 2 hours a day.

 

[FarmMom]

He doesn't nap at all? At 4 months? that is quite odd! Is this a new occurance? Like the 4 month sleep regression? My 18 month old still takes 2 naps...

My four month old has barely napped since around 12 weeks and doesn't go to bed until 10 usually. She doesn't act overtired either. I don't understand it.

 

[shinona]

Have a shot at the dream feed and see if he'll go through. With both of mine, it didn't work, they still woke at 3ish for a feed! Don't worry about the napping either, my son was like that. He grew into his naps and napped more by a year but still slept well at night xx

 

[patch2006uk]

Mine has been really off with his naps this last week, too. My eldest was never a good napper, either. As long as they're happy enough and you're giving them the opportunity to nap, then what more can you do?

I have done both dreamfeed and wait until first wake up, depending on how I feel, what sort of day I've had, how wriggly DS is, etc. It doesn't seem to make masses of difference tbh, so I'd just do whatever you feel most comfortable with x

 

[qwerty310]

Thanks for your help and answering my specific question. I've tried waking him gently around ten for the past three nights and he then sleeps until six or 6:30 am like he used to. I think his little growth spurt just had him hungry. It's nice because he doesn't even really wake up but feeds well so I am very pleased with this.