Dreamfeed?

[fludo]

Is the idea with the dreamfeed that you LITERALLY feed them while they are asleep? Because, my DD won't eat while she's asleep! (and neither would I frankly!). For a few nights I've tried for 15 mins, rubbing booby over her lips, wiggling her feet and ears, calling her name, and she just stirs. In the end I go change her nappy and she wakes up and eats and she does go to sleep again fairly easily afterwards - is this a dreamfeed?

[Miss_Vicki]

dream feeding don't work when bfeeding IMO , the closet to dream feeding boob feed was when she would wake up an would suckle while she was semi sleep , I didn't start dream feeding till she was on bottle , so about 7 months or so

but dd1 i would dream feed 3 hrs or so from last feed till she was about 12 months or so ;)

imo if bubs is sleeping dont Wake them for a feed , they needs sleep more then anything then :)

i woudlnt call that dream feeding ;)

[kkaz]

I disagree. You can most definitely dreamfeed a breastfed baby (that is, if the bubs is a willing participant!!).

In fact, my DD used to feed better while she was asleep compared to when she was awake?!? :rolleyes: Most nights I would just pick her up while asleep and she would latch on (yes, Fludo, literally while still asleep :yes:). There were a few nights where it took a while for her to latch on....and I almost gave up for the night...like you I was rubbing my nipple against her lip over and over without success....but each time she eventually latched on and sucked good and hard. I don't dreamfeed anymore, but that is another story, and not because it doesn't work for BF bubs.

If she feeds after waking and goes to sleep again easily anyway, then you probably don't need a dreamfeed...just keep doing what you are doing.

[fludo]

she would latch on (yes, Fludo, literally while still asleep :yes:)

Wow! That's pretty clever!

Thanks by the way kkaz for all your tips over the last few weeks to my multiple sleep posts :hugs:. I feel like we're finally getting somewhere. Last night she slept through the night for the first time, and today her routine is finally working :smiliedance:. And I've been able to settle her in the cot 5 times now in the last 2 days, most times with minimal crying. I hope it lasts!

[fludo]

Oh dear! I woke her at 9pm for the extra feed (again she wouldn't eat while asleep) but then she was so unsettled I couldn't get her back to sleep until 11pm, and then she woke again at 12:30am anyway. :hair:. I think I'll just leave her be tonight.

[kkaz]

Wow! That is great news about the sleep through. :yelclap: And you are more than welcome re the tips etc....after all...we all go through it. ;)

Just a tiny set back re last night and the unsettled period. Don't let it get to you. I agree...I would just leave her be. When she wakes (hopefully around 10ish, but you never know) then feed her and she will probably be less unsettled because she hasn't been woken up in the middle of a sleep.

[threechooks]

My DS is BF and has a dreamfeed. He is very good at it now but it took some practice :) Little ones like yours may need their nappy changed first to wake them enough

[fludo]

She usually does her big sleep first so if she's down at 7 or 8pm that means an early morning, middle of the night feeding. But I'm hoping that as she learns to sleep longer in one stretch that eventually this waking time will get closer and closer to a normal waking time. And besides, summer is coming, so if in a few months she's sleeping from 7 or 8pm - 5am, I can live with that in the warmer months.

Let's hope tonight goes better :fingerscrossed:

[prideNJoy]

Both of my kiddies dreamfeed when BF'ing. It just came naturally.

I still dreamfeed DS and he's 13 months, i get him out of his cot at around 10.30pm -11pm and jump into my bed, and he opens his mouth with eye's still closed and latches on.

I did this with both of them from newborn though, so maybe that's why it was natural for them?! :)