Do we drop the dreamfeed?

[Jack2601]

DS is 6 and a half months, we weaned early because he was such a shocking milk drinker, that's going great and he is on 3 meals a day with puddings after dinner and tea. At the moment he is having bottles at 7am, 11am, 3pm and 7pm (all 'ish') with solids at 8am, 12noon and 5pm. We also do a dreamfeed at 10.30pm.

The most DS ever takes in one feed is 6oz (that is the most he has ever taken) with the "worst" feed being 7am and he takes 3oz at the most. I think he is trying to drop his 11am feed, for the past few days he has not been bothered in the slightest, totally refusing today.
Do you think we should drop the dreamfeed? At the most he only ever has 4oz, generally 2oz. On the nights that he has refused it altogether he still went through til 6am, but still didn't have any more milk in the morning. I am just wondering whether if we drop the dreamfeed it may encourage him to have a better feed in the morning. Really don't know what to do.

[Jack2601]

Bump

[mumcah]

Hi Jack,

Your DS probably isn't hungry in the morning cos of the Dreamfeed.And if you do drop this every night then he will gradually be more hungry/thirsty for it in the morning.

As he's on solids 3 times a day and is a good eater then I think you can drop it.I think we dropped it with DD at 5 months after she was ill and kept throwing it up!I was surprised that she didn't wake for it as it's the one that went down the quickest!

Some children just aren't that keen on milk which you realise once they're older and look back on their baby days.

He sounds like he's doing well with his meals and drinks though.And if he really isn't that bothered about his morning one there's not much you can do apart from milk in his cereal and yogurts etc.

[ChocOrange05]

Jack we dropped the dreamfeed on DS's 7 month birthday and he was fine. I think if your DS is taking only a couple of oz and a small morning feed which is what my DS was doing (+ is on 3 meals a day) then this sounds like time to stop.

HTH

[dcgc]

We tried with and without dream feed and to be honest, he woke up at the same time regardless (around 2am). He then started waking up at about 4am - 4.30am and when I fed him he only took a few ounces so I decided just to stop feeding him at all during the night (this was when he was about 4 months). He grumbled a bit but generally I put him off with his dummy until 7am when I fed him.

I know every baby's different, but the paediatrician my friend went to (re separate issue) said that at 6 months babies tummies can hold enough food to sustain them through the night so he doesn't actually need any feeds (as long as he's eating well in the day, which it sounds like he is).

Sorry, starting to waffle now...hope it helps anyway

[Jack2601]

Thanks so much for the replies. I think we are going to give it a go!! Last night he only took 3oz at 10.30pm and wasn't really bothered about his bottle and breakfast this morning so I think we are going to not bother with dreamfeed tonight.

Thanks again.

[ChocOrange05]

Let us know how it goes Jack. That first 12 hour stretch feels like such an accomplishment (on our part!!)

Although I do sometimes miss the dreamfeed as it was so lovely and a chance to spend 15 mins with my boy before my bedtime!