how long do you "dream feed" for? And how do you keep them dreaming?!

[cheritongirl]

Have read about dream feeding in various books and have been trying it for a few nights but in reality, its just like all the other feeds in that my LO wakes up and then needs quite a while to settle again - is this what is supposed to happen? Was thinking maybe i should just feed him til he is sleepy, rather than trying to get a longer feed in? Any ideas anyone? thanks!

I don't bother with dreamfeeding any more as it doesn't make the tiniest bit of difference to when my ds wakes up. I used to do it with a bottle of EBM as found it impossible not to wake him to breastfeed. These days I just let him sleep till he wakes up for a feed. Funnily enough the night after I dropped the dreamfeeds he slept 6.30pm-7am for a week, having previously woken at least once every night. (Back to waking now sadly, but it did confirm my view that for him at least, dreamfeeding was pointless.)

i've just started dreamfeeding dd3 who is 11 weeks old. I do it about 11 - she usually would have been sleeping since 8pm or so - I feed her until she falls off again, it's not a long feed at all but keeps her going a few more hours.
hth

i have just started giving a late feed to my 10 week ds on friends' advice. i feel really mean waking him up when he's so soundly asleep - i find it quite hard! then he only takes about 2 ounces because he's so sleepy, so i let him go back to sleep. not sure if it's worth it yet... if i don't do this he'll go til about 3am anyway, then til 7. with the dreamfeed he goes til about 5, then til 8ish. i'm not really sure what the point is? is the idea that eventually the 5am will just naturally push back until it becomes 7am?

I nearly gave up on dream feeding but now swear by it, DD doesn't wake up at all for the feed, toally asleep bless her! I carefully pick her up -stroke lip with teat and off she goes, as I said I nearly gave up as DD just wouldn't take the feed but just as I said "this is the last night I'll try" she took it and thank God has ever since coz It makes a big difference to her sleeping through. It didn't at first (DD is now 11 weeks) but now it helps her sleep through till 6-7. DD has her bedtime bottle at 7 and her dream feed between 10.30 and 10.45.

Worked like a dream for DD (never even stirred), just got DS into the habit of waking for a feed

Dd would always wake up when she was about 9-11 weeks old.
Now is completely asleep, and has been from about 12 weeks old when she has one. I really must get this on film, as it is really incredible how they suck it in without waking up!

i really didn't realise i could do it without waking him! i will try tomorrow - he had his injections today so i'm gonna let him sleep all he wants as he might be feeling yukky.

Goodluck Ange, sure it will do like a dream (pun intended )let us know how it goes