Can I try to stop feeding to sleep during a growth spurt? DD is 18 wks

[kookiegoddess]

DD is having 4 month growth spurt, still waking at least 3 times after 1030 dream feed. Can I attempt to stop feeding her to sleep during the day? I used to be able to use the dummy to get her to sleep but she won't take it any more (have tried 2 brands) and in desperation started feeding to sleep. I tried PU/PD a few weeks ago and it seemed to be working but I'm now concerned that she's dependent on the calories she gets during these feeds before sleep. Am aware she needs all the feeds she asks for during spurt but feeding to sleep is taking a long time, maybe 20 min or 30 min and not reliable even after that. She is very clingy when feeding to sleep and grabs onto me and looks for nipple as soon as I move to put her in cot so it takes a few min also to move her. I've read other feed to sleep threads on boards and wd be happy to continue but I feel it's just turned into another feed rather a few mins sucking to sleep. Also she is getting heavier and my back is knackered! Really need to find a way to break the habit, even if it is painful...

Kookie, been there done that, it will change again

but if it turns into a feed as you describe she needs the milk. As she is only four months I would say you should still feed her whenever she asks.

I was not able to disentangle sleep and feed until ds was much older, but at some point when he was getting plenty of solids he discovered that he could not fit as much milk in his tummy and was still awake at the end of his feed . It did fall into place.

I would say have patience with your baby, she's still tiny!

tks madmouse. I guess I have to accept my fate. Will feed in front of the TV tonight, I can't bear sitting in the dark doing absolutely nothing, my mind just goes round and round and I start composing furious MN posts. digging deep for inner calm...