The Ultimate Guide to Dream Feeding: What It Is and Why You Should Try It

As new parents, one of the toughest hurdles you’ll have to overcome is getting your baby to sleep while maintaining your own sleep schedule. Enter dream feeding — a popular method among parents searching for a solution to those midnight wake-ups.

Dream feeding is a technique where you feed your baby while they are still asleep or in a light sleep phase, usually right before you go to bed. And often this means your little one sleeps longer in the night, so it’s win-win baby sleep for everyone.

In this ultimate guide we’re going to cover exactly what you need to know about dream feeding — what it is, the benefits and, most importantly, how to do it well. Let’s dive in!

What Is Dream Feeding?

A ‘dream feed’ is when you feed your baby at night without waking them up. This is typically accomplished by providing the breast or bottle when, the baby still somewhat asleep. This method allows babies to intake the required nutrients without waking up completely which means that the babies sleep longer thus benefitting both baby and the parents.

Dream feeding is meant to keep your baby asleep, while also giving them what they need to not wake up to eat, in those first hours of sleeping through the night. This is especially helpful during those early months when little ones wake up multiple times for feedings.

So, When Should You Start Dream Feeding?

The dream feeding concept is alluring for many parents but figuring out when to start can be tricky. Your baby’s age and feeding habits usually determine the ideal time to start dream feeding.

When Your Baby is 4 to 6 Weeks Old: This is typically when babies have fallen into a reasonable feeding pattern, and dream feeding can be implemented.

Notice Hunger Cues: If your baby wakes up for a feed during the night after their normal night feed, this is a good time to attempt dream feeding.

Not every baby will respond well to dream feeding and that’s totally okay to note, don’t feel like there’s something you’re doing wrong if your baby doesn’t fall into this category. Some babies may just sleep through the night without the need for a late feed.

Step By Step Guide To Dream Feeding Your Baby

Check out a step by step explanation of how to go about successfully adding dream feeding to your baby’s nighttime routine.

1 Choose the Right Time

If you are going to try dream feeding, you’ll want to time it right before you go to bed. For instance, if your baby normally sleeps between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., you could try to feed them around 10 or 11 p.m. This ensures they remain full longer, so they don’t wake up hungry.

2 Get the Bottle or Breastfeed

3 Keep the Lights Dim and Calm

The secret to the success of a dream feed is keeping stimulation to a minimum. Make the room dark, quiet, and calm. Do not turn on bright lights or engage in any hefty conversation. It keeps your baby in a state of relaxation and prevents them from waking up completely.

4 Gently Feed Your Baby

Gently bring your baby’s mouth to the nipple or bottle without fully waking them. Some babies will latch on instinctually when they fall asleep, while others may need some help. Give them time to suckle slowly.

5 Put Your Baby Back to Sleep

When your baby has completed their feed, burp them (if applicable) and place them back in their crib or bassinet. They go back to sleep without waking up because the goal is to avoid disruption.

Benefits of Dream Feeding

Dream feeding your baby has several benefits.

 .More Stretches of Sleep: Babies often wake up hungry and need to feed at night, but with a quick 2–3 minute feed before they fully awaken, it gives them the nutrients required to stay asleep longer.

 More Sleep for Parents: With your baby sleeping longer stretches, you’re more apt to get a good amount of sleep yourself.

 Do not overfeed or undersleep: Dream feeding ensures baby is waking every few hours for a full feed with no risk of baby waking.

 Facilitates an Easier Shift to Full Night Sleep: This can really make the transition from multiple nighttime feeds to sleeping through the night so much smoother for many parents.

 10 Dream Feed Tips to Help Make It Work

If you’re new to dream feeding, here’s a few tips to help make dream feeding more effective:

  Take It Slow: Don’t jump right into a dream feed every night. But ease in slowly with the idea and see if your baby is receptive.

  Use a PACIFIER If Necessary: If your baby doesn’t seem to want to eat anything, but is still waking up in the middle of the night, a pacifier can help get them back to sleep.

  Stay Calm and Relaxed — The more relaxed you are during dream feeding, the more likely your baby will also stay calm.

  Baby Growth Monitoring: Make sure you have consulted with your pediatrician and ensure that your baby is growing properly and receiving appropriate nutrition.

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And while dream feeding is a really great strategy, there are some common mistakes to avoid:

  Overfeeding: Dream feeding should never be used as a tool to overfeed your baby. Only so much that they feel satisfied enough to sleep longer and not so much that it causes discomfort after eating more than what their tiny tummies can hold.

  Forcing the Feed: If your baby refuses to feed, don’t shove the bottle or breast in their mouth. Use these cues to your advantage — and to your child’s.

  Relying Too Much on Dream Feeding:, While dream feeding is great, don’t over-rely on it. At some point, you will need to get your baby to sleep through the night without any nighttime feeds.

Is dream feeding the right technique for all babies?

Dream feeding doesn’t work for every baby. Some babies can sleep through the night without waking up to eat, while others may find it too disruptive. It’s important to pay attention to your baby and identify what the best fit is for him or her. If you’re still not sure, talk to your pediatrician to determine whether dream feeding is appropriate for your baby.

What is your conclusion: A well rested Baby, A well rested Parent

Dream feeding is a sleep hack that allows parents to catch some much-needed Zs while making sure that the baby is well fed. It’s not a magic bullet, but if done thoughtfully, it can result in longer stretches of sleep, and a quieter night for everyone.

As you think about your day, remember all babies are different, and what works with one baby will not necessarily work with another. Take your time, read your baby, and just tweak things a bit if necessary.” If you’re wondering whether dream feeding works for your baby, don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Question)

Do All Babies Do Well With Dream Feeding?

Dream feeding is effective for a lot of babies, but not for all. Others sleep through the night and do not need a dream feed.

One Common Strategy: Dream Feeding

Dream feeding can encourage some babies to sleep longer stretches at a time, but not necessarily through the night. It can take some time for your baby to get used to sleep longer stretches.

Good question; near the end of this age range, your baby will be preparing for a night of sleep, so the question might be, will they still be hungry enough for a dream feed?

Dream feeding is a very common practice among some parents for the first jaw-dropping period of their baby’s life — we all know that babies can’t really sleep through the night. Most parents stop around the 6-month mark, when babies are developmentally ready to sleep the night through without additional feeds, Lönnqvist said.

Is It OK To Dream Feed After 6 Months?

Most babies don’t require nighttime feeds by 6 months. If you think your baby still needs a dream feed past this age, talk to your pediatrician about the best approach.

How Do I Get from Dream Feeding to No Night Feeds?

If you decide to stop dream feeding, this can be done by gradually offering less milk at the dream feed, or by removing the dream feed altogether. Others just need time to learn how to go longer periods of time without waking up to feed.