Dream Feeding

[Vickie]

I had actually never heard of this until a few months ago when I read a post on here. We've been trying it with Hannah the last few days. We give her a bath and bottle around 8, put her in bed between 8-9. Around 10:30 or so we feed her (however much she takes) and put her back to bed. She sleeps until about 5 or so eats another 5 ounces and goes back down until around 8. I guess my question is how long do you do the dream feeding? My concern is if we are getting her up and feeding her every night how will we know when she doesn't need it any more, when she can sleep through the night (I don't expect her to sleep through now by any means but in the future).....

 

[Sweetie]

Brooklynn is just a few days older than Hannah and she is starting to dabble in sleepin all night. Last night was the second time (11:20pm - 8:15am) I have just been going by if she wakes up or not. Two nights ago she woke up three times, after having slept all night the night before. A night ago she woke twice. Before all this she only woke once between 5 and 5:30 regular as clockwork.

Sorry so long but I guess I"m saying that if she isn't waking herself I wouldn't wake her, just wait and see what happens.

 

[Vickie]

Our problem with Hannah is that she's very cranky by the evening because she only takes a few short naps during the day so we have to get her down early or she cries. But when we do that she gets up several times a night....with the dream feeding she's sleeping better from 8:30 in the evening until 5

 

[doctordeesmrs]

We've tried this with Rocco before and he just clamps his mouth shut. There is just no way of getting that bottle in

 

[thelilbump]

Sorry i can't answer your question but please may i just ask is this the thing that they talk about in that book for contented babies? Not read the book myself but have heard a lot about it.

 

[Vickie]

We've tried this with Rocco before and he just clamps his mouth shut. There is just no way of getting that bottle in

 

[isil]

I think it's quite unrealistic for babies to sleep through until they're at least 3 months - they're just too little! By sleeping through I mean 10-12 hrs...not just the 8hrs that Ally manages. If I were you I'd keep doing it if it works for you, then gradually reduce the feeds.

 

[Vickie]

I think it's quite unrealistic for babies to sleep through until they're at least 3 months - they're just too little! By sleeping through I mean 10-12 hrs...not just the 8hrs that Ally manages. If I were you I'd keep doing it if it works for you, then gradually reduce the feeds.

Thanks, as I said I really am not expecting her to sleep through. But it is nice to put her down at 8:30 and than spend some time with Stan, than dream feed her and sleep until 5.

 

[Vickie]

Sorry i can't answer your question but please may i just ask is this the thing that they talk about in that book for contented babies? Not read the book myself but have heard a lot about it.

I have no idea, I only learned about it through bnb

 

[isil]

I think it's quite unrealistic for babies to sleep through until they're at least 3 months - they're just too little! By sleeping through I mean 10-12 hrs...not just the 8hrs that Ally manages. If I were you I'd keep doing it if it works for you, then gradually reduce the feeds.

Thanks, as I said I really am not expecting her to sleep through. But it is nice to put her down at 8:30 and than spend some time with Stan, than dream feed her and sleep until 5.

oh no, I know you're not expecting her to sleep through! I just meant, that if you're going to have to feed her in the night at some point anyway, it's better if it's on your terms in my opinion! I sometimes dreamfeed Ally at 11 if he's had a feed at 7 or 8. I just don't want to get up really lol.

 

[Vickie]

I think it's quite unrealistic for babies to sleep through until they're at least 3 months - they're just too little! By sleeping through I mean 10-12 hrs...not just the 8hrs that Ally manages. If I were you I'd keep doing it if it works for you, then gradually reduce the feeds.

Thanks, as I said I really am not expecting her to sleep through. But it is nice to put her down at 8:30 and than spend some time with Stan, than dream feed her and sleep until 5.

oh no, I know you're not expecting her to sleep through! I just meant, that if you're going to have to feed her in the night at some point anyway, it's better if it's on your terms in my opinion! I sometimes dreamfeed Ally at 11 if he's had a feed at 7 or 8. I just don't want to get up really lol.

Have to say I'm the same, I enjoy sleeping from 11-5

 

[isil]

me too It just feels like if I can get him down til 5 I've had a 'nights' sleep. If I have to get up at 1 and 5 I feel like it's all a bit doomful and tiring! He tends to get up between 5 and 6 then sleep til 8 then be up for 1-2 hrs then sleep til 11. He's a funny boy.

 

[Vickie]

Hannah crashes between 8-9, even if she naps in the evening But getting her to sleep during the day is impossible

 

[isil]

at least we know they have day and night sorted out though! Ally cat naps during the day a lot (his 1-2 hr morning nap is the longest one he has). It's clever how they figure it out isn't it.

 

[Vickie]

at least we know they have day and night sorted out though! Ally cat naps during the day a lot (his 1-2 hr morning nap is the longest one he has). It's clever how they figure it out isn't it.

Too true. and I'm so so happy Hannah never had her days and nights confused! Feel so sorry for parents whose babies sleep all day and play all night

 

[Vickie]

Are you able to put him down to sleep during the day? For Hannah she usually has to be held to nap

 

[isil]

we usually have to either hold him til he goes to sleep or we rock him in his car seat. He won't sleep after a feed in the day though. Sometimes it takes a dummy (I think I'm going to regret giving him one) or me humming monotonously (sounds nuts but it works).

He often sleeps in the pushchair or in the sling. It's getting less now though, I think he likes being nosey!

 

[Vickie]

we usually have to either hold him til he goes to sleep or we rock him in his car seat. He won't sleep after a feed in the day though. Sometimes it takes a dummy (I think I'm going to regret giving him one) or me humming monotonously (sounds nuts but it works).

He often sleeps in the pushchair or in the sling. It's getting less now though, I think he likes being nosey!

I think Hannah's afraid of missing something during the day

and don't get me started on Hannah and her dummy

 

[isil]

I tried all sorts of dummys with Alasdair and the one he has taken to is the one that's bad for teeth and everything (the cherry teat) - why couldn't he have liked the orthodontic ones!

I'm ashamed to say that it does work brilliantly to get him calm.

 

[Vickie]

We use all types with Hannah, and during the night she doesn't use it at all......but during the day will SCREAM for it