I frequently get asked about dream feeds and if I recommend them. I have a newborn daughter and while dream feeds are relevant for myself now, they are also relevant for many of my readers, so I decided to address the most common questions I get asked about dream feeds.

What is the dream feed?

It's a feed you give to your baby when they are already asleep (however gently taking them out of their cot for the feed) to help them get the feed they need while enabling them to have a longer stretch of sleep in the initial part of the night.

When should I give a dream feed?

I recommend parents give a dream feed to their baby just before they go to bed themselves, ideally between 10pm and 11pm as a general guide.

I recommend trying the dream feeds in the newborn stage and phasing it out when baby no longer needs a night feed. How to know if baby needs a night feed will largely depend on your medical practitioner’s advice, and if your child is 4 – 6 months plus and is no longer waking for a feed after the dream feed until past 6am, then it could be time to try and phase out the dream feed.

Can I dream feed if I am breastfeeding?

Yes. An option for breastfeeding women or where combination feeding is giving a bottle of expressed milk/formula for the dream feed and having Dad give the dream feed while Mum gets extra sleep in the event of further night feeds.

If you are breastfeeding and giving baby a bottle (expressed milk/ formula) is an option, experiment with both breast and bottle for the dream feed to see which works best for your little one.

Why would I not wait for baby to wake for a feed themselves?

Dream feeds enable baby to sleep for a longer stretch of the initial part of the night when sleep is more restorative. It also gives parents the opportunity for a longer stretch of sleep themselves which is important, as sleep is a biological need for all, not a luxury as often we are led to believe.

How will I know it's working?

I have found it works for more babies than not. I have used it successfully for my first born, and my current 11 week old baby. It has successfully extended her period of sleep overnight substantially, and it has done similar for families I have worked with.

You have little to lose by trying it. You will know if it is working for you if baby stays asleep during the feed or slightly arouses without upset and successfully takes a feed (even if it is a small feed) and their period of sleep for the rest of the night extends, then it has done what is it is intended to do.

I recommend trying it for at least one week to 10 days before deciding it is or isn't working.

Best of luck!

Colette McCann

Child Sleep Consultant