Has anyone moved a 3am wake up to a 10.30 ish dream feed

[Piglet004]

Hi

Currently I am thanking the sleep gods as my 20week DD has, for the last 4 or so weeks settled into a nice pattern of going to sleep at about 6.30pm, waking somewhere between 3 and 4am for a feed and then waking for the day at 7.

However, not wanting to make my life too easy, I'm wondering if I could somehow get my baby to "swap" her 3am wake up to a 10.30ish dream feed (in effect make the long sleep in the second half of the night rather than the first). I am a little nervous about trying this as she seems to have her deepest sleep until she first wakes up in the night and if, for some reason, she wakes up in the 10 - 1am period she has much more disturbed nights. So I'm nervous that if I try to change what we have, I will screw up what is currently really not that bad rather than make a positive change (for me!!)

So, in my long and roundabout way, I was wondering if anyone had successfully done this swap and how long it took (I'm thinking it could take a few days to get her used to not waking up throughout the night), or if I am risking screwing up what is, in all reality, what is a pretty good situation.

Thanks

I would leave well alone piglet! That is a fantastic night for 20 weeks, I would not risk making even the smallest change. Chances are she will either just add the dream feed on top of 3am or worse the disturbed sleep will result in more night wakings.

Firstly would you like to swap babies?
Secondly, if you set your alarm 15 mins before, every couple days moving it back, I reckon you will get away with it, though it might take a while, it would mean doing a dream feed, and if she wakes after, you will need to be putting her back to bed without offering any kind of feed. Have done something along these lines and I think it won't backfire too much for you.

Piglet - another thing to try (and this is just a suggestion and possibly for the brave!) is dropping the middle of the night one completely and going for the much sought after 7-7 baby! Could you try settling her without a feed (I know feeds are often the easiest things in the middle of the night esp when the baby is doing so well in their own little pattern) or use cool boiled water? I know it's all a bit routine/Gina ish but hey! It works for some people and I like to think that, although it won't be me this baby (!), somebody else might be helped on their way to a 7-7er! You go girlfriend! ;-)

If not - love sedgiebaby suggestion which, although time consuming, could do the trick!

Good luck!

x

I'd just like to add, my 17 week DD was sleeping 7 till 3, so decided to try dreamfeed to push it out a bit longer. Biggest mistake ever! Tried it for 4 nights and she consistently woke at 1, and now I've stopped she's waking hourly from 11. As an earlier poster said, I would leave well alone! Still, all babies are different... But I haven't been this sleep deprived since the early days :(

I'd second guardianmummy. Try settling or offering water or giving her less or pushing it back a bit. I wouldn't risk waking her in the middle of her long sleep unless you thought you could feed her without waking?

Or probably the best advice is to do nothing and wait for her to push it back herself - and enjoy!

Don't touch it would be my advice! Seriously, you are risking swapping a fantastic situation for a whole bag of unknowns .

Thanks all, your replies have been really helpful.

Dreemagurl so sorry about your little one. Your story was enough to stop me in my tracks and make me realise I would be potentially playing a dangerous game!! I hope she settles back down again

So, although I hadn't thought of trying for a 7-7 and that is very tempting, I think I'm going to take the no risk, no work route and appreciate what I've got (am sure there is a life lesson in there somewhere )

Thanks again you wise souls

If it ain't broke, don;t fix it.

Ps - GuardianMummy - loving your trying to help someone else on their way!