only slept 2 hours after a dream feed - is it worth it??

[mamababa]

Hi all, new to mumsnet and hoping you can offer some advice. 9wo DS goes to bed around 7.30- 8.00pm and then I dreamfeed at 10.30pm with formula (rest of time he's bf) 4.5oz last night and still woke after just over 2 hours starving hungry. Sucking like crazy, won't settle until fed. The woke again 2 hours later hungry. according to all the experts the dreamfeed and the fact he's a bigger baby (over 13lb) should mean he sleeps longer. Ha! Beginning to wonder how long he's sleep after the bedtime feed at 7pm ish and wonder if the dreamfeed is worth it. he wont really suck a dummy either (annoyingly!!) got 5 hours earlier in the week after the dreamfeed but this is the only time

how often does he feed during the day?

How do you get him to sleep during the day?

I feed on demand but never let him go more than 3 hours to try to get the calories in. He's not a great morning feeder, a bit snacky but from 11/12 and the afternoon feeds he's fine. To get him to sleep I either rcok him if he's crying (i know!!) or sometime he just drops off (particulrly after a feed)

maybe he just needs a cuddle in the night too.

If he always fed or rocked to sleep during the day....he will expect the same for night time sleeps too

you need to try to get him used to food and cuddles being for when he has just woken up rather than when he is going to sleep

I found the dream feed utterly useless. DD would take it happily and then wake up again 2 hours later (or less) for another one! Or she would be sleeping so heavily she wouldn't feed, but half an hour later be up and wanting one.

Some people find it really works for them but some babies just need to feed on their own schedules.

I gave up the dream feed too, it was more trouble than it was worth. Now I can go to bed at 9pm or so and get a good few hours before dd (4.5 months when I stopped dreamfeed) wakes for another feed. She will often sleep 7pm to 1am or so. She recently started going 7pm to 4am which was great (although last few nights she has been waking earlier, who knows why ).

Hi mamababa

I also have a 9wo DS. He goes to bed at the same time as yours and I have been giving him a dream feed at 10.30 with mixed results. He has been know to go to 3am or even 4am, but recently (possibly a growth spurt?) he has been waking at around 2am hungry. I'm not sure whether to persevere, as it was working so well and this may be just a phase.

Maybe you could up the ounces in the bottle? My DS is now getting 6oz in his dream feed (the rest of the time he is bf) and only weighs 10lb. He was draining a 5oz bottle so we upped it and got better results.

Cheers all. Babyisaac - I put 6oz in the bottle and he never drinks its all. Last night result - he slept until 3am after the 10.15pm dreamfeed and that was the only feed of the night. Not getting my hopes up that this it is but at least a little progress I feel I think it comes down to how well he feeds in the day to stock up! Will persevere for now, unless I want an early night in which case will follow canadianmum's plan and just see what time he wakes.