5 months - too late to try a dream feed ?

[smallvoice]

Hi - my almost 5 month old was sleeping through the night at 3 months (7pm-6am) but quickly started waking at 4-5 am as I don't think he could have been getting enough milk during the day (he's bottlefed). I didn't mind doing a 4 am feed instead of the 11pm which most people do as he was sleeping so well and it seemed to suit his natural pattern. Now he's waking constantly (9,11.30,1, 2.15,3.30, 5 and 6 last night) and several people have insisted that an 11pm dreamfeed would be better than 4am and one mum swears by 'hungry baby' formula at this time.
I'm wary of reintroducing an 11pm feed incase I create a habit of a new waking time this late in his night feeding days. Does anyone have any experience of this ?
Also, are there any negatives to hungry baby formula. I'm not sure he's hungry as he settles quite easily when he does wake and not sure pumping him with more calories is good for him. He's currently a bit chubby I'm conscious of overstuffding him (he's never ever refused a feed since birth - just throws up what he doesn't want)
Any thoughts..also any ideas other than hunger ?..my lovely health visitors away and left a horrible locum in her place so can't talk it through with her.

Two friends found no difference with hungry baby. How long has he been doing this for and how heavy is he? Does he seem genuinely hungry when he wakes or is it more comfort? My 16 week LO has started sleeping through about two weeks ago but he still wakes every hour or so and has a little cry then resettles himself. Is a bit of a pain as we wake and listen to him but I'm sure it will fizzle out.

Oops - sorry just reread your post - you say you don't think he is hungry. If he quickly resettles, then I reckon he is fine. I am hoping my LO is going to grow out of it soon. If he was properly cold or hungry, he would wake up and cry for longer.

My ds is 6 months on sunday, Ive been stuck in that 4 to 5am feed thing for ages so last week decided for first time to wake him at 10.30pm to see if that would work. He is still waking up in night but doesnt seem hungry and its taken up to an hour and half to get him back to sleep! Im hoping hes going to suddenly going to start sleeping all night but at the moment there doesnt seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel!

I can totally sympathise with you ladies. My DS was 6mths on 24/10 and although hasnt realy grasped the sleeping through thing, was in a routine of waking between 4 and 5am. We were very naughty and gave him milk when he woke, even though he had had a bottle at 11pm. Have tried cutting out the 11pm feed, but that has resulted in him waking at 1.30, 4 and 6am. Wouldnt mind but i am now vack at work and spend the first hour dosing up on coffee to try and wake myself up. Hoping that he grows out of pronto!!

Hi, if your LO doesn't seem, to be hungry - could it be teething? DD was sleeping through since 3 months but at about 5.5 months she started waking at night - different times and not every night, sometimes she slept through as usual. After a month of this, our first tooth appeared, followed closely by the second one. Now we can already recognize the signs and can fairly accurately predict when she will sleep through and when not

I poured coffee on the key board after original post so have been waiting til today to buy a new one!

Can always trust mumsnet to let you know you're not alone! Nothings changed since I posted and haven't dared to try waking for an 11 feed yet as am thinking it would just about finish me off to add 11 to his waking repetiore and still have him wake all night and then not to be able to settle him without a feed at 4.

BUT today I completely forgot one of his feeds while I tucked into lunch with a friend (very very bad mummy but obviously as ds took 3 hours to notice he is clearly not starving!). As I couldn't then fit his usual feeds in before he fell asleep for the night I have a feed in the bank today. Think I might try it at 11 tonight and see if it makes any difference...

Here's hoping for a good nights sleep for us all..although pretty resigned to the fact I'll still be awake a 1, probably 3 and definately 4.

ps. anyone else have a reality check when they find themselves posting on mumsnet on a saturday night! There was a time when....

Forgot to mention Yanka, don't think its teething (although am desperate for an explanation)..he's gradully started waking since 3 months and wakes every single night but no signs of any teeth or discomfort. Think its just fivemonthsitus to be honest and I'll have to live with it.