Late night feed - when to drop?

10 replies

Benjaminsmummy · 27/06/2004 16:25

DS is 7 months and bf. He also has 3 meals a day. He is bf either 5 or 6 times a day, with the last being a "dream feed" before I go to bed.

He generally sleeps until about 7 in the morning and seems to take in quite a bit at the late night "fuel stop" but I'm wondering when I should stop this feed. I don't want him to always need to have it and am not sure whether stopping it would just mean a few early mornings and then it would settle down?

I'm also starting to want to go to bed without feeding him first...the selfish bit of me coming out! He will take a bottle of EBM but not as a dreamfeed I shouldn't think, so DH doing it instead probably wouldn't work.

When did anyone else stop doing a late night feed?

OP posts:

lydialemon · 27/06/2004 16:33

I stopped at about 5 mths. It didn't really seem to have an effect TBH. I'd try it and see what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Original poster

Benjaminsmummy · 27/06/2004 16:43

We did try a month or so ago and I wasn't too useful at 3 in the morning! But I think I will try again sooner or later.

OP posts:

muddaofsuburbia · 27/06/2004 16:46

About 6 mths, although we could have stopped earlier looking back.

From what your ds is having during the day, I don't imagine he will be waking up hungry - more out of habit or for comfort. It might take a week or so of him being unsettled but he'll get the idea quickly enough that eating happens during the day and sleep happens at night - Good luck!

Original poster

Benjaminsmummy · 27/06/2004 16:51

Right, weill try again with determination after next week (as we are going on holiday and I would like to NOT have a too unsettled DS then!)

OP posts:

motherinferior · 27/06/2004 17:12

Give it a whirl. I kept it going till dd2 was on solids at six months, I think, or possibly longer, but was starting to resent it deeply by that point!

kiwicath · 27/06/2004 21:01

My babe's 6 months but not on solids yet. I'm reluctant to stop his dream feed as loving the sleepin in the mornings. Do you think there is a "window" which if you miss makes it more difficult to stop?

muminlondon · 29/06/2004 16:42

I think I gave up the late night feed about 6 months. Don't know about a 'window' - no problems at first but a month or so later DD was waking 3 times a night. It coincided with me going back to work and apparently such a phase is common at 7-9 months. Anyway, she settled down and slept through (with a bit of reassurance).

Chuffed · 29/06/2004 17:19

I stopped just after 2 months. I was getting tired staying up so late so as to give the dream feed and find dd only wakes once in the night for about 10 mins and I cope with that better than ending up going to sleep at midnight by the time I feed and nod off myself.

PicadillyCircus · 17/07/2004 13:43

By the way have changed my name - I was Benjaminsmummy (well of course I am still Benjamin's mummy!)

Decided to stop doing late night feed on Friday as I can see that DS is having lots to eat during the day and we have now had 3 nights of him sleeping about 12 hours at least! He even knew it was the weekend and let us have a small lie in on Sunday until about 8.

Feel gald that I waited until DS was ready to drop the feed and hope that this sleep pattern continues

kiwicath · 17/07/2004 15:10

Well done you!!! Was also on the verge of stopping but then out of the blue his usual wake time of 7am went to 6 then 5 and this morning .... 4.30am . So much for solids getting them thru the night. I dread to think what time he'll have me up if I skip the dream feed now.

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