When should I stop dreamfeed

[gemma55250]

Hi there,

I'm looking for some advice re dreamfeeding!

Leyton gets dinner (main and pudding) at 5pm some playtime then bath at 6.15, changed into pjs, story bottle and in bed for 7 and falls asleep within 10-15 min normally. Wedreamfeed at 11pm and have done for months. He wakes at 7-7.30 so sleeps for 12 hrs as he hardly wakes when we lift him at 11.

We have tried bringing the dreamfeed back by 15 min every few nights but when we get to 10pm he seems to wake in the middle of the night. Should we just stop it altogether?

X

 

[sausages]

If i remember rightly we stopped DDs dreamfeed at 6 months old. I would try bringing it back 15 minutes each week, rather than every few days. That will give a longer adjustment time so hopefully when you eventually get to 10pm it won't mean he wakes.

How old is he?

 

[aob1013]

You don't have to stop hun, you can carry it on.

 

[gemma55250]

Sorry I should have said. He is almost 8 months but was 7 weeks prem so 6 months adjusted. I thought about continuing it but insuppose you have to stop it sometime. He does take about 4-5 oz at that time though. X

 

[hmcx]

we've only just started on solids and have reduced the amount we give her at the dream feed to see if she still sleeps through, which she has been, and as she starts taking more food i plan on reducing the dream feed by an ounce every week until hopefully we stop it!

 

[gemma55250]

That's a good idea. Leytin been on solids for a while but I've just been letting him take as much as he wants. I'll give that a try. X

 

[hmcx]

Just thought i'd let you know that last night Elsbeth actually refused her dreamfeed, and she slept til 6ish which is only an hour earlier than usual!
During the day she had 25oz milk and 1/2 jar of baby food at 10.15 and 2.00!

 

[alwaysforever]

Dont know if i sound stupid or not but what is a dreamfeed?

 

[babyfromgod]

Dont know if i sound stupid or not but what is a dreamfeed?

I'm pretty sure it is when you get LO out of bed for a bottle say just before you go to bed and they are asleep while they drink it. It usually helps them sleep through the night

 

[alwaysforever]

Ahh ok never heard of this one before might start doing that x

 

[blessedmomma]

i have always just kept doing it with mine until they refuse to eat. when mine are ready they do it themselves. there has never been a magic age or anything, they have all been different. i start to notice they just refuse to eat it and still sleep through the night so thats when i quit.

 

[hmcx]

You do it between 10-11, lift them out while trying not to wake them and feed them in their sleep! Although as they get bigger its harder to not wake them, Elsbeth always settled quickly though!

 

[bubbles123]

We stopped at 8 months, after he was established on 3 meals a day.

 

[ellaandcallum]

I am not being rude but why do you dreamfeed your babies, until this site I had never heard of it, all my children have slept through from 7pm and would never lift them to feed them in their sleep. I am not being funny but I dont understand it. xx

 

[ellaandcallum]

Sorry just seen the other posts, I am sure your baby will just sleep though when he or she is ready, some babys wont go through until a year old. Also the baby gets used to the dream feed and I would assume would cause problems when stopping it. If a baby is on solids and having milk in the day surely a dreamfeed is too much too. Sorry ladies this has never been advised to me or any of my friends by a professionals and you should follow your babys lead. Dont growl at me its just my opinion. xx

 

[aimee-lou]

I stopped the dream feed at 8 months, but Earl would wake at least once a night until recently (3 nights) anyway so it's up to you whether to carry it on until you're happy. We tested him one night to see when he would wake, and he woke at his normal dream feed time, but maybe you could do the same. He will wake you if he's hungry and you can always keep it going if you're not happy with the times etc.

 

[babyfromgod]

Sorry just seen the other posts, I am sure your baby will just sleep though when he or she is ready, some babys wont go through until a year old. Also the baby gets used to the dream feed and I would assume would cause problems when stopping it. If a baby is on solids and having milk in the day surely a dreamfeed is too much too. Sorry ladies this has never been advised to me or any of my friends by a professionals and you should follow your babys lead. Dont growl at me its just my opinion. xx

without the dreamfeed my LO would not be getting his 5th bottle and wouldn't be taking in enough milk during the day therefore not gaining enough weight. Each mum has their own reason why they dreamfeed their babies and if it helps baby sleep through the night and give mum a bit more sleep i don't see a problem

 

[hmcx]

Sorry just seen the other posts, I am sure your baby will just sleep though when he or she is ready, some babys wont go through until a year old. Also the baby gets used to the dream feed and I would assume would cause problems when stopping it. If a baby is on solids and having milk in the day surely a dreamfeed is too much too. Sorry ladies this has never been advised to me or any of my friends by a professionals and you should follow your babys lead. Dont growl at me its just my opinion. xx

It is something suggested by a well known baby expert! Tracey Hogg- The baby Whisperer! I'd never heard of it until i got her book, but i decided to give it a go and it worked for us! And we've now managed to drop it without problem!

 

[gemma55250]

I think it's easy to think feeding a baby when they are not demanding it is the wrong thing to do however don't knock it till you've tried it.

Lo doesn't wake hungry and in my experience is a very happy baby for it compare to waking hungry
x