All About Dream Feed

Dream feeding can change the sleep schedule of parents and newborns. Many parents find the dream feed is helpful as it allows everyone to sleep longer. However, it is important to remember that every baby is different and what works for one family may not work for another.

For more information about dream feed, please kindly check today’s blog.

• What is a dream feed?
• How to dream feed?
• When to stop dream feed?
• Signs that breastfeeding has stopped
• Is dream feeding safe?
• Dream feed schedule
• Dream feed pros and cons
• Conclusion

What is a dream feed?

Dream feeding is feeding late at night, usually between 10pm and midnight, while your baby is still asleep.

Parents can gently wake babies up to feed without waking them up completely. The dream feed can feed your baby's stomach so that they sleep longer during the night. Many parents use dream feeding to help their babies sleep longer and wake up less often during the night. This is especially useful when babies wake up frequently for feeding in the first few months.

How to dream feed?

For dream feeding, parents should gently pick up their babies around 10 pm to midnight and try not to wake them up completely.

Parents can breastfeed or bottle-feed their babies when they are still asleep most of the time.

create a quiet environment

It is best to dim the lights and minimize noise to maintain a quiet environment.

offer some encouragement

Babies may need some encouragement to suckle, so gently touching their lips with the nipple will help.

Once the baby starts to breastfeed, parents can let them eat until they look full, or they can stop on their own. After breastfeeding, parents can quietly burp their baby and put them back to bed, hopefully everyone will sleep a little longer.

When to stop dream feed?

Parents may want to know when they can drop the dream feed. Generally, most babies are ready to stop dream feeding by the time they are six to nine months old.

After 6 months, babies usually start sleeping longer and don't need the extra nighttime calories.

Signs that breastfeeding has stopped

• Babies sleeping through the night without dream feeding.
• Babies do not eat as much as they should during dream feeding.

Parents can try gradually reducing the amount of milk used for dream feeding to see if the baby continues to sleep well. If the baby adapts well, it may be a good time to stop dream feeding altogether.

Is dream feeding safe?

Dream feeding is safe for most infants if parents done correctly.

hold your baby in a safe position

Parents should ensure that the infant is held securely and fed in a safe position to prevent choking.

keep the environment quiet

It is important to keep the environment calm and quiet to avoid waking the baby completely.

monitor your baby

Monitoring your baby's cues is key. If your baby seems distressed or has difficulty feeding while drowsy, it is best to consult your pediatrician. As with any feeding method, what works for one baby may not necessarily work for another, so parents should observe and adjust to their baby's needs.

Dream feed schedule

Creating a baby dream feeding schedule can help parents establish a routine that works for their family. Here is a simple example dream feed schedule:

• 7:00 p.m. - Evening Feeding: Feed your baby at bedtime as usual.
• 7:30 p.m. - Bedtime: Put baby to bed after the evening feeding.
• 10:30 p.m. - Dream feeding: Gently pick up your baby for a dream feeding. Keep the lights dimmed and the environment quiet. Feed without fully waking your baby, either breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
• 11:00 pm - Back to bed: Gently burp your baby and put them back to bed after the dream feed.

Parents can adjust the schedule to suit their baby's specific needs and sleep patterns. It is important to keep the schedule consistent to help baby adjust to the routine. As time goes by, your baby will start to sleep longer at night, parents may consider gradually reducing the number of dream feedings.

Dream feed pros and cons

Advantages of dream feeding:

Prolonged sleep for parents: Dream feeding reduces the number of wakings during the night for feeding, thus helping parents to get longer uninterrupted sleep.

Consistent calorie intake: Ensuring that your baby is getting enough calories throughout the night will help with growth and development.

Reduce nighttime crying: If your baby eats more throughout the night, they may wake up and cry less often.

Transition to longer sleep: Dream feeding can help babies gradually learn to sleep longer at night.

Disadvantages of dream feeding:

Disruption of natural sleep patterns: Dream feeding may disrupt your baby's natural sleep patterns and cycles.

Dependence on feeding: Some babies may become dependent on late-night feeding and have difficulty falling asleep without it.

Potential overfeeding: There is a risk of overfeeding, especially if the baby has already consumed enough calories during the day.

Challenges of weaning: Once your baby is used to dream feeding, it may be difficult to stop dream feeding and a gradual weaning process is needed.

Doesn't work for all babies: Every baby is different and dream feeding may not work for all babies, so parents must monitor and adjust according to their baby's individual needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dream feeding is a beneficial strategy for many parents who wish to improve their baby's sleep patterns and reduce night wakings.

By performing late-night feedings while the baby is asleep, parents have the potential to get longer periods of uninterrupted sleep for their babies and themselves.

Dream feeding may not work for every family, but for those who do benefit, it can make a significant difference in achieving more restful nights. As always, a consultation with your pediatrician can provide individualized guidance based on each baby's specific needs.