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How do I stop the night feeds?

9 replies

TheJen · 19/12/2007 22:51

My DS is nearly 9 months and has always been a good sleeper. However, thanks to teeth etc, he's been having a breastfeed in the night (in addition to his dream feed) and because he's getting his calories at night, he's not eating that much in the day (we're also babyled weaning so he doesn't eat massive volumes yet). I'm keen to stop feeding him but don't want to let him cry- we've used baby whisperer techniques in the past and we plan to pick up/put down to break the habit of the night feed and gradually edge the dream feed earlier and earlier til bedtime. We're waiting til the New Year as we're moving around a lot at christmas. Just wanted some advice really- does this sound like a good plan? Which feed would you tackle first etc? Should I drop the dream feed first for example? Any experience/ advice welcome xxx

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MerryPIFFLEmas · 19/12/2007 22:54

I'm no help I feed my 9 mth old anywhere from 1-4 x in the night... happily!
We do BLw as well BUT ds2 is so tired and ratty by 5pm that I now give him mashed food and it means her sleeps better as he eats more - but as he is sprouting teeth like weeds atm I'm just feeding him whever he wakes, like a natural alternative to calpol :0

TheJen · 20/12/2007 09:40

Its funny you should say that Merry- DS had mashed potato last night and i helped him with it and he slept through after his awake-dream feed (!) so maybe that helped. LOL re calpol- I know what you mean it seems so silly to withold it when the boob has such a calming effect. My only worry is that he eats little in the day because he tanks up at night

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laundrylover · 20/12/2007 10:01

Hi TheJen and Piffle too,

When I stopped feeding DD2 in the night (she was prob nearly a year though) I just let DP get up and settle her when she woke for a week and then we ignored her chunnering after that. That said she still wakes up when she's teething and I tend to feed her - she is 20 months now. She's also out of nappies and last night wee'd in the bed - if it's not one thing it's the other eh???

TBH I wouldn't think that BLW had much effect altho I can see that mashed potato might fill 'em up. DD2 has always eaten much more on BLW than DD1 on purees though. How about a supper of mash or weetabix/porridge and then drop the dreamfeed and see how you go Jen? I never did dreamfeeds but I think lots of people drop them by 6 months. Personally I wouldn't bother edging it forward, I'd just drop it and see what happens.

Jojay · 20/12/2007 10:15

I think your first plan sound like a good one. I'd try and drop the feed in the night first though, before the dream feed., jsut becaose the dream feed presumably is more manageable for you.

Am I right in thinking he has previously slept through from the dreamfeed, but has started waking again since teething?? In which case in theory it shouldn't be TOO hard to get him to drop the feed.........(famous last words....!!)

Over the next week or so I'd try to make the feed a minute or two shorter every night and see how he goes. Concentrate on making the feed as quick and low key as possible, so he goes back down quickly and easily.

Once he's feeding for a short time and going back down easily, I'd stop feeding him and try and get him back to sleep without it. If you've used BW techniques in the past and they've worked for you, do that again. Maybe get DH / DP to help, then boob isn't an option.

As to the dream feed, I was lucky and my ds just stopped wanting it, but a couple of my friends edged it forward like you mention, and had success with that, so I think that's a good plan.

Remember though, from a nutritional point of view, taking lots of milk and not much solids really isn't a problem at this stage, however I totally understand why you'd like to get him to drop the night feeds!

HTH and Good Luck

MerryPIFFLEmas · 20/12/2007 10:26

See the nights when I don't do the dream feed ds2 goes like this
7-12-4-7 thats me woken twice
If I dream feed him he goes
7-10.30-4-7
that means only one wake for me
Thats the only reason
He used to go up to 9 hours until 6 mths
He eats loads during the day IMO

TheJen · 20/12/2007 21:07

Thanks ladies, only problem with just filling him with mash etc and dropping the dream feed is that he actually wakes for the dream feeds and screams for me! Anytime from 9-11 so its not really a dream feed! I know I shouldn't worry too much about him eating or rather not eating solids as I know that milk should be main source its just I feel he's a bit upside down and that he should be able to get more calories during the day. Can't do much until after christmas just thought I'd find if anyone had much experience.
Jojay... how do you shorten the breastfeed? If I take him off before he's finished he will scream the place down.

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sazzybeehomeforxmas · 21/12/2007 11:03

I was about to start a thread on this exact subject! Well - similar. My 9m DS has not had a feed at night since he was about 6m but now is waking 2-3 times a night and guzzling anywhere from 7-14oz. He was in hospital for a week a few weeks ago though and on a 2 hour feeding schedule so I thought that was what was making him wake but maybe it's the teeth?

He's currently feeding every 3 hours but he really screams when he wakes up if you don't feed him (or try and cut the feed short) so I'm not sure how to get him to drop any of them. I really need him to go longer between feeds because I just can't cope at work when I'm only getting 2.5 hour burst of sleep.

(hello piffle waves)

TheJen · 21/12/2007 14:56

Clearly have no advice as am desparate for sleep myself... lots of sympathy though

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PanicPressiePants · 21/12/2007 14:58

Offer only water when they wake up in the night, then they soon realise it's not worth waking up anymore.

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