Anyone introduced dream feed at 8 months?

[matana]

I tried this when DS was much younger and he resisted it and became more unsettled so i just went with his own rhythm which, although a little inconvenient for my own sleep, was actually ok (he has never naturally woken at 10/11pm for a feed and has always gone from 7.30ihs till the early hours).

He now generally wakes once for a feed at around 4am which sees him through till breakfast, and he settles back to sleep until around 7am when he just chatters to himself happily until i fetch him. Very occasionally he goes for 11/ 12 hours but is by no means consistent. I'm still BFing for his bedtime feed and during the night.

But i'm going back to work in 6 weeks and will be getting up at 6am so really don't need the 4am waking. Has anyone experienced trouble introducing a dream feed in a young baby but then successfully introduced one for an older baby? Worth a try or any other advice? I don't go into him if he's just chuntering to himself, but do go to him when he cries and i don't want to use CC or CIO. He is hungry because he guzzles for 15 minutes.

[bigkidsmademe]

When you go back to work he'll be ten months, is that right - he might not need the night feed then? Six weeks is a long time. Does he eat a lot in the day?

[matana]

I had wondered if he'd give it up on his own, but not sure. Yes, he's a fabulous eater and eats a lot during the day. He's very normal weight though - 50th centile.

[bigkidsmademe]

Sorry - I thought someone who knows more would come along but clearly they all have things to do on a Friday night! Personally, I would spend the six weeks gradually night weaning, if he eats very well in the day. I can see how a ten month old who doesn't eat a lot might need night feeds but one that does... But I know a lot of people would disagree with me so hopefully they'll be along soon to give their advice! My six month old is fully night weaned now and although six weeks ago ish he was feeding three or four times a night, he adjusted so quickly to dropping feeds I think he was never truly hungry. And now he sleeps :)

Good luck. I'm back at work on Monday and am terrified

[matana]

Thanks bigkidsmademe. He's only 8 months at the moment but will be almost 10 months when i go back.

He's slept through now for 4 nights out of 6 So perhaps he's getting there on his own. I may give it another week or two to see what happens and if he starts waking again take your advice on night weaning.

[bigkidsmademe]

Hurray :)

Mine ha stopped sleeping because he's started half rolling over and getting trapped and twisted