Longest Stretch of Sleep
- Thread starter clowe77
- Start date
Lucylou - yes formula fed babies sleep through the night much more easily... so I am not surprised you never had to resort to dream feeding. I guess that's more something breast-fed babymommies like us need to do to stay sane (ie - TRY to get ourselves a few extra hours of sleep in the night!)
Peainpod - wow I don't think your beloved NEEDS a dream feed... i'm sure you can cut it out soon - sounds like mommy is working hard and giving him plenty of nutrition during the day. I think lots of babies don't sleep through the night out of habit more than need... and as they grow older (and wiser haha) they will kick the mid-of-night feed habit... one can always hope!!!
Really? But since he finishes the 4 oz bottle AND nurses at my breast on most nights that I'm reading this as him still needing the dreamfeed. (ie. once he starts only taking a couple of oz instead of the full bottle, that's the sign of habit more than need.)
cyberfish88
Registered User
clowe77, As for middle of the night feeds - exactly the same as you! She feeds off of one breast (while I pump the other) for only about 10 mins and then goes right back to sleep. Occasionally she will sleep through till 8 or 9! (I count on her waking me up so was shocked one morning to see it was so late and she was happily playing in her crib)
As for the 10:30 dreamfeed amount, I reduced it to 2oz the other night and then nursed her and she slept her longest stretch yet so I have no proof that increasing the 10:30 dreamfeed amount will help them sleep! (hmm unless, she actually got more from my breast which could be the case...) I was also wondering if maybe you want them to drink less at this time because eventually it will be phased out?
I think you and peainpod are right about the nutrients during the day. My daughter has always been on the small side so I am always trying to feed her as much as I can. Like peainpod, I don't know how I could get more feedings in.
Lucylou, yeah formula-fed babies are a completely different story. If I don't dreamfeed my daughter she will wake at 1-2am making that 7pm-2am her longest stretch of sleep. So the theory is that I am helping her switch that long stretch to post 10:30 feed. It is also the same idea as those who recommend tanking your child up during the day so they get the nutrients and can sleep longer at night. I was uncomfortable with it at first but it really works and all I have to do is gently pick up my daughter and she starts smacking her lips without waking up! It is pretty funny. She then goes right back into a deep sleep.
Anyways, it is good to hear your routines clowe77 and peainpod so that I know I am not too far off.
As for the 10:30 dreamfeed amount, I reduced it to 2oz the other night and then nursed her and she slept her longest stretch yet so I have no proof that increasing the 10:30 dreamfeed amount will help them sleep! (hmm unless, she actually got more from my breast which could be the case...) I was also wondering if maybe you want them to drink less at this time because eventually it will be phased out?
I think you and peainpod are right about the nutrients during the day. My daughter has always been on the small side so I am always trying to feed her as much as I can. Like peainpod, I don't know how I could get more feedings in.
Lucylou, yeah formula-fed babies are a completely different story. If I don't dreamfeed my daughter she will wake at 1-2am making that 7pm-2am her longest stretch of sleep. So the theory is that I am helping her switch that long stretch to post 10:30 feed. It is also the same idea as those who recommend tanking your child up during the day so they get the nutrients and can sleep longer at night. I was uncomfortable with it at first but it really works and all I have to do is gently pick up my daughter and she starts smacking her lips without waking up! It is pretty funny. She then goes right back into a deep sleep.
Anyways, it is good to hear your routines clowe77 and peainpod so that I know I am not too far off.
Hi Peainpod - well, of course don't take my word for it - I am just surmising here... you seem to be feeding your baby plenty during the day - was does his PD say? And is he over or under avg weight or right on target for his age? If he's in say the 90th percentile or above (which mine is!), I'd say he probably doesn't need the extra night feed... Sometimes babies suckle for comfort (and feed out of habit) not necessarily out of hunger. Just my 2 cents!
Cyberfish - feel free to PM me or call me at 9020 5970 anytime to discuss any of your issues. I think we're on the same wavelength with feeding/sleeping schedules. Last night my LO slept from 1am (daddy slept through his 11pm alarm so we did the dream feed one hour later) to 6:45am, so I'm pretty jazzed today. He did wake up at 5:10am crying but twice I picked him up and cuddled him back to sleep after 8 minutes without feeding him... Have you ever tried just cuddline/patting your baby back to sleep if he wakes up at 2-4am? That could work, and you'd be training your baby to not feed before a certain time. If he's not really hungry, chances are he could go back to sleep with just a cuddle...
Cyberfish - feel free to PM me or call me at 9020 5970 anytime to discuss any of your issues. I think we're on the same wavelength with feeding/sleeping schedules. Last night my LO slept from 1am (daddy slept through his 11pm alarm so we did the dream feed one hour later) to 6:45am, so I'm pretty jazzed today. He did wake up at 5:10am crying but twice I picked him up and cuddled him back to sleep after 8 minutes without feeding him... Have you ever tried just cuddline/patting your baby back to sleep if he wakes up at 2-4am? That could work, and you'd be training your baby to not feed before a certain time. If he's not really hungry, chances are he could go back to sleep with just a cuddle...
Cyberfish - since you're more focused now on phasing out the 2-5am feed, I would not reduce the number of ounces you feed him at the dreamfeed YET. Let him phase out the mid of night feed before starting then to slowly reduce the dream feed. That's what I've read anyway...