The “dream feed” is one of those buzzwords that you’ve probably heard of but have no idea how it works. Many parents try it as an attempt to get themselves a longer stretch of sleep by “topping” baby up.

As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant having worked with hundreds of families, I have very specific requirements for dream feeds and I think it’s important for families to truly understand the pro’s and con’s of dream feeds so that it’s not just another “tip” they try frantically, hoping it magically solves sleep issues.

The truth is it CAN work but only if it’s within a full plan that suits the baby’s age, temperament and all other factors (ie. environment, timing, schedule, feeds) are being considered. So instead of jumping to implement a dream feed, it’s important to understand the guidelines and when they are appropriate, as well as when to drop it completely.

I will help cover everything you need to know about dream feeds here so you can decide whether they are right for your family and whether to include it in your sleep plan!

What is a dream feed?

A dream feed is when you rouse baby from sleep but not fully wake them and place the breast or bottle in their mouth. They will naturally suck and feed while technically still sleeping.

If they wake up or are awake it’s not a dream feed.

They should take a full feed (empty breast) or full bottle and not a snack while still sleeping.

You don’t unswaddle but you can just quickly burp and place them back in their crib/bassinet, still asleep.

The purpose of this feed is to time it so that they get a nice long stretch of sleep afterwards are not waking up because of hunger.

What time is best for a dream feed?

The best time for a dream feed is between 9-10:30pm, usually 2-3 hours after your baby goes to sleep (assuming they are on a 7pm/7:30pm bedtime).

Here are some free schedules if you need help getting on a good routine.

You can time the dream feed for when you are ready to call it a night or better yet, have your partner do it while you rest.

Can it really help my baby sleep longer?

Sometimes! It’s really not about them sleeping longer because of it, but just timing it before a nice long stretch.

It doesn’t work for all babies however, and I would say it’s hit or miss. Some babies won’t latch or suck in their sleep and will turn away and some will wake up shortly after.

This would tell me that a dream feed won’t work for them.

What age is best for dream feeds?

This is key. The best age for dream feeds is. between 12-16 weeks but really it’s for newborns after 12 weeks, younger than this they probably still need some awake time during this feed (to build sleep pressure for a longer stretch). If they are sleeping past 10pm, then you can try. a dream feed before they wake.

There are many opinions from experts on dream feeds and I personally think dream feeds can disturb sleep if done at past 5-6 months.

So we should be weaning them by 5 months, 6 months as an absolute max.

Dream feeds if done too late can actually disturb deep sleep and cause a greater dependency on calories at night.

If you’re baby is 2-4 months dream feeds are an optional and a temporary option.

How do I know if a dream feed is not working for me?

We should see a nice long stretch of at least 6 hours after a dream feed, if we don’t and baby can’t re-settle between those 6 hours, then I would opt to drop the dream feed and just let your baby sleep a nice long stretch at the beginning of the night and wake to feed naturally if they need it.

Remember your little one after 4 months will wake up after each sleep cycle (which is 2 hrs) so a 11pm, 1am, 3am, 5am wake up is normal and not necessarily hunger. See free module on nutrition and sleep inside Your Dream Plan for more on this.

When to drop a dream feed?

If a dream feed is working for you, you should aim to drop is by 5/6 months.

The best way to do this is to not offer it at all and re-settle instead using your sleep strategy (you’ll need a sleep plan- get one here). Or alternately, you can wean the feed slowly - use the chart laid out in the free nutrition and sleep module of Your Dream Plan.

What are the pro's and Con’s of dream feeds

It’s important to understand that they don’t work for every baby. Dream feeds are something that CAN be helpful for newborns but very temporary.

Pro’s

Allows you to time nights feeds - you can go to bed early and have your partner do this feed.
Should get you a nice long stretch at night for newborns that need extra calories.
Because your baby is still sleeping, they won’t wake up fully and have trouble falling back to sleep after the feed.
Your peace of mind that they have eaten and are not hungry.
It’s an easy and convenient feed for parents.

Con’s

It can disturb deep sleep. (which only happens between 7pm-midnight).
If done for two long it can become a habitual wake up.
As your little one gets older they can manage longer stretches between feeds and we don’t want to feed them that early.
It can cause baby to wake up because they are digesting (their body warms up. to digest).
It can cause your baby not respond to hunger cues.
It might just not work and cause more wake ups.
You can get stuck with calories consumed at night and cause reverse cycling (less calories being consumed during the day).

In the end, it’s up to parent’s to make an informed decision. It’s not a miracle cure and if not done correctly I actually see it hinder sleep. When it comes to calories at nights, it really is about your particular baby, their age and understanding why they are waking up in the first place.

Reach out here to assess what is happening with your little one and come up with a game plan together!