What is a dream feed?
Dream feeding is when you feed your baby, without fully waking them, for the last time in the day. This is a personal choice, but lots of parents and caregivers find it’s a great technique to reduce the number of times their little one wakes during the night to be fed.
You can dream feed your baby by bottle or breastfeeding. Do what works for you and your family.
Are dream feeds a good idea?
Dream feeding is a personal choice. Some families like to dream feed because they find it helps their child to sleep for longer periods during the night. While others don’t see a difference. Find what works for you.
However, there are some risks to consider when dream feeding:
Overfeeding
Your child might not need the extra feed before you head to bed. If this is the case, dream feeding can increase the risk of overfeeding. In turn, this might lead to your little one to spitting up, becoming fussy, or needing to have their nappy changed more often through the night.
Infections
Some parents and caregivers find that dream feeding can also increase the risk of ear infections. Always follow safe feeding guidelines.
Gas
Newborn babies are naturally gassy as their digestive systems haven’t yet matured. To reduce the build-up of gas that can make your child uncomfortable, regularly burp them and always hold your child in an upright position when feeding.
How do I know if my baby needs a dream feed?
Newborn babies have small stomachs and need to be fed every two to four hours. Once your child shows signs that they can sleep for longer periods of time, you might want to consider introducing dream feeding. This is usually around two to three months old.
When is the ideal time to offer a dream feed?
The idea is to dream feed your baby before you go to sleep yourself so this might be between 10pm-12am. The parent or caregiver is the one who initiates the feed.
You can start to dream feed your baby as early as six weeks old, but it’s advised that you wait until they have developed a somewhat regular sleep pattern.
How to dream feed
From establishing a bedtime routine to burping, follow the below steps to dream feed your child safely.
Create a bedtime routine (and stick to it)
A consistent bedtime routine will help your child to understand when it is time to sleep. This might look like reading a book, singing a lullaby, or a baby massage. It’s also important to create a calming environment that will help to relax your little one. Turn down the lights, close the curtains/blinds, and speak in hushed tones.
Put your baby to sleep in their cot or bassinet
When it’s your child’s bedtime and they appear sleepy, put them to sleep on their back in a cot or bassinet. Always ensure the mattress is firm, flat, and clean. Remove any toys, loose objects, and excess blankets from the cot/bassinet before sleep. For further information on safe sleep guidelines, visit our blog.
Dream feed your child before bed
Just before you head to bed, this can range from 9pm to 12am, gently rouse your baby. If you are bottle-feeding your child, ensure they are not fully asleep and sit them in a semi-upright position to prevent choking. If they are not taking the bottle/breast or begin to turn their head away, this is a signal that they are full.
Do not continue to feed them. Put your baby back into their cot/bassinet quietly and with as little fuss as possible.
When to stop dream feeding
Every child is different. The age you decide to start (and stop) dream feeding is up to you. You might want to consider weaning them off dream feeding if they are waking in the night from a sleep onset association or if it appears to be negatively impacting your child’s sleep schedule.
