dream feeding - please could you explain to me how to go about doing this?

[monthlymayhem]

I've tried dream feeding over the last couple of nights at around 11pm - the first night I breastfed, the 2nd night was ebm using a bottle. The 2nd night though he only took 1.5 oz and I gave him the bottle while he was still sleeping in his cot - not sure though if I should actually be partially waking him first so he'll take more? Also, should you wind afterwards - I'm afraid of waking him up if I do! Any help much appreciated!

[Seona1973]

when I did it I lifted ds out of the cot and sat in my bed with him and fed him there. It probably helped waken him a little but not so much that he was fully awake. I used to then hold him up at my shoulder for a few minutes to see if he had wind.

[PuppyMonkey]

I wouldn't bother if I were you. Just disrupts their sleep pattern, I found.

Tried it with DD2 and she kept waking up every couple of hours all through the night.

As soon as we stopped doing it, she learned how to sleep for longer and longer strecthes until by six months she was going 7pm-7am.

It's a myth that a dream feed will make them go for longer, believe me!

[BEAUTlFUL]

It's not vital that they stay completely fast, fast asleep, is it? I thought the ideas was that you keep the feed low-key and not too song-and-dance stimulating, but they can be awake.

I dreamfeed my DS2 at 11pm every night - switch on his little nightlight, lift him out on to my lap, feed him, hold him up to see if there are burps, put him back in his basket. He's awake during the whole feed, but he keeps his eyes shut.

I wouldn't feed him when he's lying down in his cot... but only because I'd hate to drink lying down.

[BEAUTlFUL]

My son is 3 months and sleeps from 7pm till 6-7am, with a 4oz dreamfeed somewhere in there. He never wakes up for this feed, but I'm a bit scared to stop it in case he wakes up ravenous and shouty at 3am.

Mind you, last night he only had 1.5oz, and still slept till 7am. Hmm.

I think I only do it to get an extra cuddle, tbh.

[BEAUTlFUL]

When he's 18, I'll probably still be going into his room at 3am and dreamfeeding him lager.

[PuppyMonkey]

Beautiful!!

[jelliebelly]

Dh always used to do the "dream feed" with a bottle of EBM just before he came to bed - 10.30-11.00ish - great idea to let you get an earlier night too! He used to put the bedroom light on really low (fit a dimmer switch or get a night light), pick him up and feed him on his lap the same as if ds was fully awake - basically the baby feeds in their sleep hence "dream feed". Must admit we did have to wind ds as if we didn't he would wake up a couple of hours later crying in pain with trapped wind which kind of defeated the object! Definitely worth doing IMO.

[JoyS]

Seems like it really works for some babies and not for others. Was useless for DD, she'd either happily take the dream feed and then continue on her normal waking schedule anyway or stay completely asleep, not opening her mouth while I jammed my nipple at it. 7-2:30 was when she wanted to be asleep and there was nothing we could do about it. Gave it up after a week.

[monthlymayhem]

Thanks for all the replies, will try to gently rouse him tonight and see how it goes!