Dream feed question

Stacyacker22

So DH and I are going to transition baby to her crib this weekend and I was reading about "dream feeding" and think this would be a great option for us. From what I understand this would basically mean putting the baby to sleep earlier and then feeding her again before I went to bed without fully waking her. Before, we were just keeping her downstairs with us till we went to bed and then officially "putting her down for the night" at that time.

My questions are a) does anyone do this and what was your experience? And more importantly, b) do you burp baby when you do this? I can't imagine her not becoming fully awake if we try to burp her as she usually screams during burping!

myfriendscallmemeg

I've only done it once, because my milk jug boobs were FULL. And no, I didn't burp her. That being said, I don't burp during any of our MOTN feeds. Which, if I wake up to her early hunger grunts, is basically a dream feed in & of itself. My baby is okay with not being burped, it usually ends up with lots of morning farts. But that's okay with me.

ProudMommy030614

I have done this and I burp Colton he doesn't wake up. He is a pretty heavy sleeper though.

CruiseGirl28

We used to do exactly what you did. Now we put her to bed around 830ish. I dream feed around 10/1030 (3 hours after last bottle). We bottle feed so it may be different but I always burp her.

I love it. Before starting this, her last bottle was at 7. She would go 6 hours (so until 1), but I didn't go to bed at 7 (well the first week or so I did).

Now I feed her right before I go to bed. And she goes 6-9 hours now, so we have slept until 7 a few times.

katykatykaty

I attempted it once and he refused to eat and also woke up, so I am too scared to try it again.  I love the idea, though.  

BTBergstrom

I have done it once since she slept from 10pm-5am I had gotten up and pumped at 3 emptying one breast and just relieving the pressure in the other but by 5 I had to feed so I grabbed her out of the crib and she latched on fine. She ended up pooping while feeding and waking up so she got changed but it was a sleepy change versus a screaming one

vacsx2

Do you initiate the dream feed or do you wait for LO to fuss?

BTBergstrom

I picked her up while sound asleep and put my nipple on her lips and she latched right on

angelsnight

I officially put LO down around 11:30 after a diaper change and bottle, but she's often been asleep in the living room for a couple of hours.

Occasionally she'll wake up during her 11:30 feed but will easily go back to sleep, or she'll just be asleep the entire time.  I do usually try to burp her, I just put her on my chest and lightly pat her back or rub her back and it's usually enough to get the job done.

KTdid81

I do it. Usually around 11 little man will start stirring but not wake up. I will feed him then. He stops fussing and sleeps more soundly for the next 4-6 hrs. I don't burp him in the middle of the night.

oceanangel0502

Do you give them a full feeding when you dream feed? Like if they take 5 oz at 9 pm, and then you dream feed at 11pm and give a full 5 oz again?