tell me about "dream feeding"

[RhiChiChi]

HotI, that's what takes so long sometimes. It's still taking me 40 minutes just to feed and then she's wide awake most times so i play for a while and then finally put her down. And then it starts again in an hour lol

I might start doing it in the next few weeks...give it a try. At the moment she is feeding around 3:30, 6:30, 9:30 and then 12-1. So I would feed at say 10:30? And hopefully shed sleep till when? 3am?

I'd stop playing at the night feed, including the 6.30 one so she starts to realize its sleep time. For that feed, just prior we started a bedtime routine, so bath, massage, feed then bed. Dim lights, minimal interaction etc... I also never chatted, had bright lights, unwrapped , anything really to rouse my DD out of her sleepy state when she woke for feeds during night times/overnight. Try the rollover feed tonight about 11 as i think at 10.30 it will be too close to the 9.30 feed. Are you waking her for the 9.30 feed? If so, then I'd push her out to 10/10.30pm and do it as a dreamfeed - so don't wake, just attach her on.

[Marley&Me]

Thanks RhiChiChi. I usually do the bath at 6pm and feed at 6:30. She hates the bath though, screams the house down. And the night feeds I just put the tv on, no lights, no talking. But DH does the 9:30 feed and he will usually let her sleep over if she does. And she is in the bassinet in the lounge with him. I guess I could try the 12.30 feed as the dream feed and make it 11:30...

[LuluHB]

If she hates the bath Tash maybe try a shower with her. Two of mine have much preferred a shower over the bath in the early months and the skin to skin contact with Mum or Dad is very relaxing for them. Very good when you first try it though for both parents to be around - one to get in the shower and the other to pass bub in, and then to take bub out again to dry.

[Jellyfish]

Just thought I'd mention you don't need to bath a newborn everyday if she isn't a fan and it is just stressing her out. Or maybe try moving it to a different time of day?

[RhiChiChi]

I found putting a facewasher on my DD tummy when in the bath helped, she didn't seem so stressed being naked!

[Marley&Me]

DH filled the bath up more last night and more water covered her. She still screamed when we took her clothes off, but was better when we put her in.

[PumpkinZulu]

Do you pop her in a baby bath or get in the bath with her babe? When both my girls were little they loved it when is get in the bath with them, and they could lay on my chest, have a feed etc. It was very relaxing for us both, maybe worth a try

[chippyrabbit]

My daughter didn't like the water so a friend who works in NICU suggested this and it worked great. Wrap them up tight in the cloth nappy like a normal swaddling and once they are in bath unwrap it little bit at a time til they get used to it.

[Marley&Me]

Well tonight was completely different! I undressed her and she didn't scream. I put her in the water and she didn't scream. She was quiet and seemed to be enjoying it! DH ran to get his phone so he could record it LOL. She did scream when I took her out, but otherwise it was great! .