My Dream feeding theory *UPDATE

chicsahm · March 2014

I started to dream feed LO once her bedtime became earlier (between 6 and 7pm) I would go to bed about 3 hrs after so of course dream feed so I could get a long stretch before she would want to eat again. Generally she will wake again around 1 or 2, and maybe 5 or 6am and then sleep until 7:30. However it can still be all over the place… midnight, 4, then wake at 7:30.

Now I am re thinking dream feeding, there have been a handful of times that she would eat once after she went down and then STTN until 7am…. and last night I realized it has been every time I do not dream feed. It is usually because I am SO tired and I go to bed to early to dream feed her, and DH is working late. She went down last night at 6pm and passed out… and I passed out by 8pm :P DD woke at 10:30, I fed her…. and she didn't wake, stir, or cry out until 7am! So now I am wondering when I dream feed her it throws off her natural sleep pattern which causes her disrupt the entire night….we shall see!! I am going to stop dream feeding her to see if my theory is true

*****UPDATE*****

I have not been dream feeding since posting this and nights have only gotten BETTER! She is waking around 11:30 (12:30 last night prob due to time change) for a feeding and sleeps for the rest of the night without a peep!! Last night my body FINALLY went into a deep sleep… I know it will still take a while to get back to my well rested self but it's a start, and I will take it! I think my theory is correct… If anyone who is still dream feeding and LO is up a lot, I would be interested to see how it works for you!

PixiesDust · March 2014

I never understood the whole dream feed concept. I've always abided by the rule -- never wake a sleeping baby!

Chrisanna0508 · March 2014

DS woke before I could dream feed him last night and seemed to sleep better as well. He was still up 3 times, but I definitely got longer stretches of sleep and he didn't want to throw a midnight party so I may stop as well.

blueeyedrose86 · March 2014

I love the dream feed! DD doesn't wake up, so I don't have to put her back to sleep. I usually fall back asleep while she eats. We bed share though; I can see how getting LO out of bed to feed can be disruptive. I hope she keeps it up!